Community Grants

Cheshire East Council prides itself on supporting the Voluntary Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Sector. Having a responsive grants process, a good relationship with the sector and a shared understanding of meeting either existing or emerging needs of the community, allows for systematic partnership working. The needs of our communities can change and the need to pilot and test service delivery to sense check what works in what areas is important and we aim to do this through grant allocation.

Improved, Greener, Community Facilities Fund - Funded by the UK Rural England Prosperity Fund

 

The UK Rural England Prosperity Fund has been created for councils to deliver £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. 

Grants are currently available to improve digital connectivity, energy efficiency and save carbon at community facilities and buildings through the Improved, Greener Community Facilities Fund, funded by the UK Rural England Prosperity fund.

Funding (capital grants) will be pledged by Cheshire East Council towards projects which demonstrate investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups. (UKSPF Intervention E11) and Investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities (UKSPF Intervention E15)

Energy Efficiency Projects - Organisations can apply for 75% of projects costs up to a maximum of £15,000.

Digital Connectivity Projects – Organisations can apply for a grant award up to a maximum of £10,000.

Applications will be considered from organisations for local projects, meeting the fund objectives and criteria.

Are you a community building who wishes to make your building more energy efficient to help with energy bills or become the digital community hub? This fund can help bring your idea to life!

For more information about the fund criteria and application form view our Improved, Greener Community Facilities Fund supporting document (PDF, 286KB).

For digital projects, refer to our Digital Project Examples Supporting Document (PDF, 244KB) for further information on what you could apply for.

See our list of successful organisations (PDF, 180KB) in receiving funding through the IGCF fund for a carbon neutral project. Please note, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and this document will be updated with further successful applicants once the next set is approved. 

Apply for Community Facilities fund

 

The Flourish Fund - Supporting Community Wellbeing through volunteer development and co-ordination.

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Cheshire East Council are offering grants that will support the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector in the borough to respond to the needs of their beneficiaries through intervention, advice and support.

​The 2030 system blueprint vision statement is that:

Cheshire East is a place that supports good health and wellbeing for everyone (all age).

Applications for up to £10,000 from organisations meeting the objectives of the Flourish Fund grant below:

• To allow organisations to recruit, co-ordinate, train and recognise volunteers who are supporting vulnerable residents in the community, that will in turn reduce health inequalities and the demand in social care. ​

• To increase the number of organisations that can match volunteers to vulnerable people needing support in their communities.​

• To support vulnerable individuals that are discharged from hospital to rehabilitate in their own home. 

• To provide accessible and affordable transport to services and appointments for vulnerable people, across all areas of Cheshire East that creates a diverse community transport offer that gives options for individuals with different circumstances. 

For more information about the fund criteria, what can be funded and to access the application form view our Flourish Fund Supporting Document (PDF, 180KB).

This fund is now closed. 

Cost of Living Community Response Fund - Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity and Household Support Fund 

Cheshire East Council is offering grants that will support the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector in the borough to respond to the needs of their beneficiaries through interventions, advice and support to help to alleviate the Cost-of Living Crisis.

Applications for up to £10,000 from organisations for local projects meeting local need as well as meeting the objectives of the Cost-of-Living Response grant below: 

• Support the VCFSE sector in Cheshire East by helping them to recover from the Cost-of-Living impact by thinking how they may make efficiencies whilst also responding to the needs of their beneficiaries.
• Support the VCFSE sector to develop sustainable food solutions and long-term support to reduce the dependence on food banks.
• Enable those adversely impacted by the Cost of Living to access the right help and support at the right time.

For more information about the fund criteria, what can be funded and to access the application form, view our Cost of Living Community Response Supporting Document (PDF, 279KB).

This fund is now closed. 

Previous Grants

Cost of Living community response grants 2023

Cheshire East Council has recognised the implications caused by the Cost of Living crisis by re-opening the Cost of Living Community Response fund in October 2023 for a second round of applications and offering grants that will support the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector in the borough to respond to the needs of their beneficiaries through interventions, advice and support.

These grants were funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

The Community Offer Cost of Living Community Response brochure (PDF, 400KB) has been created to ensure the grant funded (2023-2024) provision is accessed by those who need it most. This document can be shared with communities, residents and professionals. The project information included is only a small part of what the individual organisations do and timescales vary for each organisation, do contact them directly to discuss if you would like further information.

The Cost of Living Community Response fund will be opening for a third round of applications later in 2024. 

Health and wellbeing grants 2023

In 2022 as part of the integration agenda, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, Cheshire East Council and the  VCFSE sector worked collaboratively to design and deliver a grants programme aimed at improving the physical and mental wellbeing of the local population and reduce health inequalities.

In addition to health and wellbeing grants, the VCFSE told us about the cost-of-living implications on them and their beneficiaries. In response to this we announced a cost of living grant, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Government Levelling Up Fund. The grant funded services (2022-2023) can be found in the document below. 

It is important that once providers are grant funded, we continually work alongside them to enhance relationships between the public sector and VCFSE sector and shared learning between grant recipients.

Health, Wellbeing & Cost of Living Grants Our Community Offer – supporting communities to respond to local need in 2023/2024 (PDF, 1.3MB)

This document has been created to ensure the grant funded provision is accessed by those who need it most. This document can be shared with communities, residents and professionals. The project information included is only a small part of what the individual organisations do and timescales vary for each organisation, do contact them directly to discuss if you would like further information.

Healthy Neighbourhoods Fund 2024

System Partners (ICB, Primary Care, Acute trusts, Local Authority, VCFSE reps) are working together to create healthier households in Cheshire East creating a blueprint of what we want to achieve as a system by 2030. As part of these developments, system leaders understand that to support good health and wellbeing there needs to be the services that can support people to remain healthier and improve their wellbeing in their own home, creating healthier households. ​

The 2030 system blueprint vision statement is that: Cheshire East is a place that supports good health and wellbeing for everyone (all age).

See our Healthy Neighbourhoods Fund Grant Brochure May 2024 (PDF, 669KB) which includes successful organisations in receiving funding through the Healthy Neighbourhoods fund. 

GrantFinder

Does your organisation need funding? Would you like support searching for funding opportunities for your organisation?

GrantFinder is one of the largest and most comprehensively supported databases of its type. It offers users a user-friendly, accurate and continuously updated package that has helped to facilitate the securing of millions of pounds’ worth of funding support. We have a license to use the GrantFinder service, providing VCFSE organisations with bespoke funding searches for their organisation or for specific projects.

For further information or to request a funding search, contact communitygrants2@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Social Franchise

Cheshire East has partnered with a range of churches, community centres and other settings to create our Connected Communities Social Franchise and host a range of activities and support services closer to where people live.

We’ve provided support to the settings listed on our Connected Communities Social Franchise Opportunities webpage to enhance their digital offer, and if you’re looking to start your own group then the Centres listed may also be able to provide free room hire – contact them to find out more.

Page last reviewed: 23 September 2024