2025 Summer Open Grants Programme

Cheshire Community Foundation are excited to launch a new programme for 2025, focussed on delivering projects in the most deprived wards of Cheshire and Warrington. This programme will fund projects which reduce inequalities, improve health, and create opportunities for residents.

What will the programme focus on?

This programme will fund projects supporting activity in the 20% most deprived areas in Cheshire and Warrington, according to the most recent Indices of Multiple Deprivation data. When looking at deprivation related data, these are sometimes referred to as the most deprived, and second most deprived “deciles” (i.e. IMD Deciles 1 & 2). These areas can be explored on maps such as:

– Xploria (Highlighted in Red)
– CommunitiesOpenData (Highlighted in Blue)

What can we apply for?

You can apply for up to £15,000 if the grant pays for, or contributes to, a salary. If not, you can
apply for up to £10,000. Funded work must last no more than 12 months.

This programme will fund programmes which:

• Address issues that are most important to the community. Where possible, projects should actively involve the people they work with when planning the project and take their views into account.
• Improve the quality of life in disadvantaged areas.
• Address a specific purpose, such as mental health, social isolation, challenges faced by children and young people, low-income families, food poverty, and/or marginalised communities
• Help to build community resilience and support the changes that local people aspire to but need help to achieve.
• Give local people the tools and skills to help themselves. For example, helping people overcome barriers to employment, or raise aspirations to contribute towards helping families lift themselves out of poverty.

Eligible costs could include:

• Staffing/salary costs
• Volunteer expenses
• Venue hire
• Transport costs
• Small equipment/materials
• A contribution to associated core costs.

Who can apply?

This programme is open to any organisation which meets our grantmaking principles and minimum requirements, and works with people in eligible areas.

Timeline

This programme will open for applications on the 16th June 2025. It will close for new applications on the 20th July 2025.

We will aim to let people know of their decision in mid-September, with successful projects running  for up to 12-months somewhere from late-September to the end of 2026.

All funded projects will be required to submit an end of grant report form in late 2026, when their funded work ends.

Find out more on how to apply.