Cheshire Community Foundation Limited

Charity Number: 1143711

Annual Expenditure: £1.4M

Geographic Focus: Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester, Warrington

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £14+ million (distributed since 2012)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: 3 weeks after panel meeting
Grant Range: £500 - £50,000 (varies by program)
Geographic Focus: Cheshire East, Cheshire West, and Warrington

Contact Details

Website: www.cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk

Email: office@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk (general) / grants@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk (grant enquiries)

Phone: 01606 330607

Pre-application Support: The foundation offers extensive support for applicants who may experience barriers when applying. Contact the team for alternative application methods including paper, video, verbal, online, or face-to-face options.

Overview

Cheshire Community Foundation was established in 2011 (registered as charity number 1143711) and has distributed over £14 million in grants since 2012 to support hundreds of small charities and voluntary groups across Cheshire and Warrington. The foundation operates as the local community foundation for Cheshire East, Cheshire West, and Warrington, distributing grants to not-for-profit organisations on behalf of donors and fund holders. Their vision is “a Cheshire and Warrington where everybody can thrive.” The foundation's current strategic focus centres on five key pillars aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals: tackling poverty and disadvantage, improving mental health and wellbeing, enabling stronger and more resilient communities, developing education, skills and employment, and building awareness of climate change. Data from 360Giving shows the foundation has funded 2,085 recipient organisations with cumulative grants of £14.2 million (January 2016 to August 2024).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme: Up to £2,500 - Supports small, grassroots projects addressing disadvantage in Cheshire and Warrington's most deprived wards, focusing on issues like marginalised communities, low-income families, food poverty, and poor mental health. Applications accepted on a rolling basis with quarterly panel deadlines (March, May, August, October).

SWEF (Young Entrepreneurs): Up to £2,000 - Business grants for entrepreneurs aged 18-30 in Cheshire and Warrington. Funds can support equipment, training, specific marketing costs, and product development for newly formed businesses.

Cheshire Minds Matter: Up to £15,000 (single organisations) or up to £50,000 (partnerships) - Mental health and wellbeing projects.

Early Intervention Programme: Up to £25,000 - Delivers early intervention and diversionary activities for young people at risk of involvement in Child Criminal Exploitation and Serious Youth Violence.

Active Futures Programme: Variable amounts - In 2024, over £180,000 was awarded to 11 organisations for early intervention activities increasing physical activity and reducing involvement in Serious Youth Violence and Child Criminal Exploitation.

Families First Programme: Variable amounts - Supports interventions which help families with children navigate parenting issues at the earliest possible opportunity.

Building Brighter Futures Fund (EMR): Variable amounts - Supports UK charities funding employment, education or health and social care projects helping local young people reach their full potential.

Radius Grants Programme: Variable amounts - Projects delivering positive outcomes in Crewe.

South Cheshire Funders' Forum: Variable amounts - One-stop-shop for charities tackling disadvantage in South Cheshire.

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes work aligned with six Sustainable Development Goals:

No poverty
Zero hunger
Good health and wellbeing
Quality education
Reduced inequalities
Climate action

Geographic Priority: At panel, applications for work supporting people in more deprived areas of Cheshire and Warrington according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation are prioritized.

Community Focus: Community-focused projects improving quality of life in disadvantaged areas, working with marginalised communities, addressing food poverty, improving mental health, reducing loneliness, and building confidence and skills.

What They Don't Fund

Specific funding exclusions were not publicly detailed in available sources. Applicants are directed to check the 'Am I Eligible' page on the foundation's website for specific program requirements and to contact the grants team for guidance.

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer

Melanie (Mel) Sproston - Appointed CEO in 2024, bringing extensive experience from the international education sector. She stated: “I am honoured and excited to take on the role of CEO at Cheshire Community Foundation. Leading an organisation that aligns with my passion for community development and social impact has always been a dream of mine.”

Key Trustees

Sean - Over 30 years' experience in financial services with MBNA, Bank of America, and Lloyds Banking Group; director of the Very Group and Chief Operations Officer of its financial services arm.

Howard - Chairman of Locker Group and Chair of Trustees of the Challenge Academy Trust.

David - Consultant adviser working across the educational landscape with focus on governance, strategy and leadership.

Andy - Entrepreneur with broad portfolio across medical, manufacturing, hospitality, construction, and property sectors (appointed 2025).

Terry - Senior leader within a global engineering and project delivery company.

Jake - Trustee of The Holroyd Foundation, long-standing supporter of CCF.

Key Staff

Tim - Oversees accounting, treasury and related compliance matters; chartered accountant who joined part-time in 2019.

Karen - Nearly 20 years in funding and development roles in the voluntary sector, now in grants management.

Tom - Joined in 2024 after spending a decade in grantmaking at BBC Children In Need.

Melanie - Joined in 2024 following career in international education sector.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are primarily submitted online through the foundation's website at cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk. Before applying, review all open funds and check the 'Am I Eligible' page to confirm eligibility.

Accessibility Support: The foundation believes everyone should access their funding opportunities fairly. For those experiencing barriers, contact grants@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk or call 01606 330607 for alternative application methods (paper, video, verbal, face-to-face).

Application Methods: Most programs operate on rolling basis with fixed quarterly deadlines (Small Grants Programme has panels in March, May, August, and October).

Decision Timeline

Standard Timeline:

Applications can be submitted any time before the deadline
Panel review at scheduled quarterly meetings
Decision notification: Within 3 weeks of panel meeting
Payment: Within 2 weeks of accepting grant terms and conditions

Example Small Grants Programme Timeline (2025):

March 9th deadline → April 23rd decision
May 18th deadline → July 2nd decision
August 10th deadline → September 24th decision
October 12th deadline → November 26th decision

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. The foundation acknowledges receiving more applications than they can fund, indicating a competitive process. From 360Giving data, they have funded 2,085 organisations since 2016, demonstrating substantial reach across the community.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not detailed in publicly available information. Applicants should contact the grants team directly for guidance on reapplication options.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

Accessibility First: “We believe that everyone should be able to access our funding opportunities fairly. We recognise that some people may experience barriers when applying.” Don't hesitate to request support.

Geographic Targeting: Applications for work supporting people in more deprived areas of Cheshire and Warrington according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation are prioritized at panel meetings.

Alignment with SDGs: Strong applications demonstrate clear alignment with one or more of the foundation's six priority Sustainable Development Goals.

Recent Projects Funded

Active Futures Programme (2024): 11 organisations received over £180,000 for early intervention activities increasing physical activity and reducing involvement in Serious Youth Violence and Child Criminal Exploitation. This was delivered in partnership with the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire and Active Cheshire.

Knutsford Fund: CEO Mel Sproston highlighted: “The Knutsford Fund ensures that support reaches those who need it most. These grants are already making a difference – in schools, community centres and homes across the town.”

Warrington Youth Initiatives: Through Active Futures, multiple youth organizations received support for initiatives increasing physical activity and reducing youth violence involvement.

Key Language and Terminology

The foundation emphasizes:

Local impact: “Local giving to groups doing local good”
Deprivation focus: Regular references to Index of Multiple Deprivation
Thriving communities: “Where everybody can thrive”
Early intervention: Strong emphasis on preventive work
Partnership: Values collaboration and working with other funders
Sustainability: Long-term approaches aligned with SDGs

Standing Out

Demonstrate local need: Use data about deprivation levels in your specific area
Show early intervention: Emphasize preventive approaches rather than crisis response
Evidence community voice: Show how beneficiaries have shaped your project
Align with SDGs: Explicitly connect your work to relevant Sustainable Development Goals
Partnership approach: Highlight collaboration with other local organizations
Clear outcomes: Articulate measurable impact on people's lives

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geographic targeting is crucial: Applications supporting work in more deprived areas receive priority at panel meetings - use Index of Multiple Deprivation data to strengthen your case.

Multiple funding tiers available: The foundation offers grants from £500 to £50,000 across different programs, allowing you to match your project size to the appropriate funding stream.

Accessibility is valued: Don't let application format be a barrier - the foundation actively encourages applicants to request alternative submission methods.

Rolling deadlines with quarterly panels: Plan ahead using the published quarterly decision dates (typically 3 weeks after panel meetings), allowing you to time your application strategically.

SDG alignment matters: Explicitly connect your project to the foundation's six priority Sustainable Development Goals - this demonstrates strategic fit.

Early intervention is prioritized: Projects focusing on prevention and early support align with the foundation's strategic approach, particularly for youth programs.

Strong track record of support: With over £14 million distributed since 2012 and 2,085 organisations funded, the foundation has an established commitment to supporting local groups - they want to say yes.