New fund launches to support community groups across Cheshire.
Charities and community groups across parts of Cheshire are being invited to apply for grants of up to £20,000 from a new fund linked to a major infrastructure project in the region.
Cheshire Community Foundation is delivering the Liverpool Bay CCS Limited Community Benefit Fund locally, working in partnership with Community Foundation Wales, which is distributing funding to communities in neighbouring Flintshire.
The fund has been established by Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (LBCCS) to provide long-term investment in communities near the LBCCS CO2 Transportation and Storage (T&S) infrastructure, the backbone of the HyNet North West industrial decarbonisation cluster, which is helping to transport and permanently store carbon dioxide beneath Liverpool Bay as part of the UK's transition to net zero. The Community Benefit Fund forms part of an initial four-year programme running from 2026 to 2029, designed to create lasting benefits for the communities that host the infrastructure.
In Cheshire, funding is available to charities and not-for-profit organisations delivering projects for the benefit of people living within a defined area covering Chester and surrounding communities, including Blacon, Upton, Newton and Hoole, Lache, Frodsham, Helsby, Neston, Little Neston and Parkgate. The full list of eligible locations is available on the grant details page here.
Grants will support projects that fall within one or more of three priority themes: education and learning; looking after the local environment; and celebrating local heritage and culture. Around six to seven grants are expected to be awarded in Cheshire each year, depending on demand.
Mel Sproston, Chief Executive of Cheshire Community Foundation, said:
“We're pleased to be managing the Liverpool Bay CCS Limited Community Benefit Fund in Cheshire. Funding like this can make a significant difference to communities, giving charities and community organisations the resources to turn great ideas into action and respond to the needs and opportunities they see around them. We look forward to seeing the real and lasting difference this fund can make for local people.”
Stefano Rovelli, Managing Director for Liverpool Bay CCS Limited, said:
“The launch of the Liverpool Bay CCS Community Benefit Fund is an important milestone for our Transportation and Storage project. We understand the importance of creating meaningful and long-lasting benefits for the communities in which we operate, and this fund showcases our commitment to the region. As Liverpool Bay progresses through construction, we are pleased to be able to continue supporting our local communities and look forward to engaging with them on projects that will deliver lasting social, environmental and economic value.”
Applications for the first round of funding open at 12pm on Wednesday 9 September 2026 and close on 2 November 2026, with funding decisions communicated to applicants by the end of January 2027.
Full eligibility criteria, guidance and the application form are available here. Organisations that need support to complete an application can contact the grants team on grants@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk or 01606 330607.
