Thinking strategically.
Acting locally.
Achieving more together.
The Congleton Fund
The Congleton Fund brings together local people, businesses and charities to tackle some of the most urgent challenges facing residents. Led by Cheshire Community Foundation, the fund supports high-impact local charities that are helping people in Congleton and the surrounding area to thrive. Anyone can give, to make their home town a better place for us all.
Download our Congleton Fund Overview
Congleton, known locally as Beartown, is a historic market town on the banks of the River Dane at the edge of the Peak District National Park. Centuries of trade, textiles and ribbon weaving built the town's character, and that same spirit lives on today in its strong community pride and its thriving local brewing and gin scene. But behind the heritage and the charm, many residents face a daily struggle that isn't always visible from the high street.
The Congleton Fund brings together local businesses, individuals and public sector partners to tackle that inequality head on. Managed by Cheshire Community Foundation, it funds high-impact grassroots charities working at the sharp end of poverty, health inequalities and educational disadvantage, so that people facing the greatest barriers get the support they need.
The Issues in Congleton
Congleton's reputation as a picturesque market town can mask a harder reality in parts of the borough. Across Cheshire East, 24% of children are growing up in relative poverty, a rate only just below that seen in Trafford. Within Congleton itself, the challenges span housing, health, education and safety, and they aren't shared equally across the town.
Local Challenges
Unemployment
% in some Congleton East Wards
Children
% Living in relative poverty
Life expectancy
Years lower than Chelford & Wilmslow
These statistics represent real people, families, young people and older residents who deserve the same opportunities as anyone else in this town. Almost a quarter of adults in Congleton East have no formal qualifications at all, and violent and sexual offences remain the most commonly reported crime across every ward. The Congleton Fund exists to help level that playing field.
“Congleton is a traditional Cheshire market town shaped by centuries of trade, craftsmanship, and community spirit. From its medieval charter to its well-known “Beartown” legend, the town’s story is one of resilience, enterprise, and local pride.”
Get Involved
In the last 12 months we awarded £20,400 in grants to charities across Congleton, and just over £50,000 in the last three years alone. It's a strong start, but with poverty, poor health and limited opportunity still holding so many residents back, there is much more to do.
Every pound donated to the Congleton Fund is pooled with others so your contribution achieves far more than it could alone. Cheshire Community Foundation handles all due diligence and impact reporting so you can give with confidence and see exactly where your money goes, bearing none of the administrative burden.
Supporting the Congleton Fund is an investment in the town's future and in the people who make it what it is.
To find out more please contact Marie:
