Cheshire Community Foundation and partners are delighted to announce the launch of the South Cheshire Funders’ Forum, a pioneering initiative designed to simplify the funding process for small charities in the South Cheshire region. This new platform enables local charities and community groups to apply for funding from multiple regional funders with a single, straightforward expression of interest form, saving time and reducing administrative burden.
The South Cheshire Funders’ Forum is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for funding, created specifically to address the needs of smaller charities that often have limited capacity for fundraising. Instead of completing numerous lengthy application forms for different funders, charities can now submit a single brief form that is shared with multiple regional funders, simplifying the process of securing much-needed financial support.
The Forum has brought together a variety of dedicated regional funders, including the Julia Rausing Trust, Cheshire East Council, Cheshire Community Foundation and the Steve Morgan Foundation. Each of these funders is committed to supporting local projects and organisations that make a positive impact across South Cheshire, from tackling inequality to improving health and wellbeing. The Forum is also joined by Community and Voluntary Services Cheshire East (CVSCE) who bring valuable insight into the community sector and the needs across the area.
Key features of the South Cheshire Funders’ Forum include:
- Single Application Process: Charities can complete one brief form, which is then circulated to a range of regional funders. This significantly reduces the time and effort required to seek funding.
- Increased Efficiency for Funders: The Forum also benefits funders by fostering greater dialogue and collaboration between them, helping to reduce duplication of efforts and ensure a more efficient use of resources across the region.
- Regional Focus: The platform brings together funders that are based locally and are committed to supporting South Cheshire’s charitable sector. By focusing on regional funding, the Forum strengthens the local impact of charitable projects and community initiatives.
The Expression of Interest (EOI) process is designed to make the application process as accessible as possible. Charities can visit the Forum’s website and submit a simple EOI form, providing basic details about their organisation, the project they need funding for, and the impact they hope to achieve. Once the EOI is submitted, it is reviewed by the South Cheshire Funders’ Forum, which then matches the charity with relevant funders. If a funder is interested in the project, they will contact the charity directly to discuss the next steps, allowing for a more targeted and efficient approach to securing funding.
EOI forms received by 13th November will be considered on 20th November with the outcome notified by 27th November. This process repeats monthly to ensure frequent, year-round access.
The South Cheshire Funders’ Forum is a game-changer for small charities in our region. By streamlining the application process and allowing charities to connect with multiple funders through one form, we are helping to free up their time so they can focus on what matters most – delivering services that make a real difference in our communities. This initiative also brings funders closer together, enabling more coordinated and impactful funding decisions.
Why South Cheshire?
Crewe and the surrounding areas face significant levels of deprivation, with many communities experiencing high unemployment rates, poor health outcomes, and social isolation. According to research, Crewe ranks among the top 20% most deprived areas in the country. These challenges highlight the critical need for targeted support to address inequalities and improve the quality of life for residents. The South Cheshire Funders’ Forum is designed to meet these pressing needs by providing much-needed financial support to charities that work directly with vulnerable populations, helping to create positive change in the region and empowering local organisations to tackle these challenges head-on. By focusing on South Cheshire, the Forum aims to ensure that funding reaches the areas where it can make the most impact, fostering greater community resilience and well-being.
The South Cheshire Funders’ Forum is based on similar successful initiatives elsewhere in the country. It was developed in response to feedback from both funders and local charities, many of whom highlighted the challenges of applying to multiple funders due to their limited capacity. The Forum seeks to address this by making the funding process quicker and more accessible, while also promoting better communication between funders to ensure that resources are allocated effectively.