Bentley Advancing Life Chances Programme

In working to advance life chances, our priority is to support organisations working with vulnerable people, disadvantaged and under-represented communities.

Grants will be awarded to charitable organisations based in Crewe or, if an organisation based outside of the town wishes to deliver a project in Crewe, they will need to demonstrate that they are the best-placed organisation to do so. Projects must focus on delivering outcomes under one of the following pillars:

• Access: projects which remove real or perceived barriers to services, employment or education 
• Empowerment: projects which help people develop life skills, so that they feel more self-confident and in control of their lives
• Quality of life: projects which support people to live a healthier life [physical, mental, wellbeing]
• Better future: projects which safeguard the local environment, improve nature-deprived areas, giving a boost to both the town and community spirit

All projects must meet Cheshire Community Foundation’s grantmaking minimum standards and policies.

We’re particularly keen to hear from organisations who wish to work collaboratively and strengthen partnerships through this funding. 

The maximum grant size available is £20,000 for projects of up to 12 months in duration. Previous ALC grant recipients may apply for the 2026 programme but will need to evidence successful completion of their 2025 funded activity and explain how their application builds on that work or continues to deliver impact for the people they support.

Ideally, the programme is keen to support projects in their entirety.

If your project is looking for seed funding to launch a new service or to pilot a new approach for people in Crewe, and your request would exceed £20,000, please email us to arrange a time to discuss before submitting an application. 

A note on measurement:

Under each pillar, projects must clearly describe how they will measure progress against the outcomes which they plan to deliver – allowing Bentley to understand more deeply how its investment is advancing life chances in Crewe against each pillar. Please note, each project only needs to deliver outcomes under one pillar.

This programme is open to all applicants who meet our minimum grantmaking criteria, and are delivering work in Crewe in line with the programme aims.

Continuation grants

Previous ALC grant recipients may apply for the 2026 programme but will need to evidence that their previous work is on track and delivering strong outcomes. Continuation projects must show how their application builds on previous work, or continues to deliver impact for the people they support.

If you have been funded through the Advancing Life Chances programme for a consecutive three years, you will not be eligible to apply for a fourth year.

• Applications must be submitted by 5pm on 18th of September 
• We anticipate that applicants will receive decisions  in mid to late November.  
• Successful projects will run for 12 months from approximately December 2026/January 2027. Monitoring will be due approximately 2 weeks after the project’s completion date.