Businesses, residents and community leaders invited to back new initiative as national research highlights the power of local giving.
One in four children in Macclesfield is living in poverty. In some parts of the town, unemployment reaches 60%. And there is an eight-year gap in life expectancy between Macclesfield and neighbouring Wilmslow, just a few miles away.
Those are the statistics behind a new Macclesfield Fund, managed by Cheshire Community Foundation with support from local MP Tim Roca, with the aim of raising £150,000 by the end of 2027 to fund grassroots organisations working to address local need.
The fund launches as new national research from the Charities Aid Foundation confirms that people are most likely to give when they can see the difference charities are making on their own doorstep. Across the UK, donations fell to an average of 0.9% of income in 2025, down from 1.1% the previous year, with nearly half of people saying they do not know whether charities are making a difference where they live.
Mel Sproston, CEO of Cheshire Community Foundation, said: "Macclesfield is often seen through the lens of Cheshire's wider prosperity, but the data tells a more complex story. There is real need here, just streets away from some of the wealthiest postcodes in the county. The Macclesfield Fund is about giving everyone with a connection to this town a simple, direct way to be part of the solution. A donor can be anyone. You do not need to be wealthy to make a difference."
The fund follows the model of Cheshire Community Foundation's Crewe Fund, which has already made over £350,000 in grants to local organisations since 2021. Donations of any size can be made immediately via the fund's JustGiving page.
Tim Roca, MP for Macclesfield, said: “Macclesfield has always been a place where people step up to support one another and take pride in their community. The Macclesfield Fund is a real opportunity for local businesses and residents to come together and back the people and places that matter most to us. It is about making it easier to turn generosity into lasting change and ensure support reaches where it is needed most.”
A free launch event takes place on Friday 26th June in Macclesfield bringing together local businesses and individuals to hear more. Anyone wishing to attend can request an invitation by emailing office@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk.
