Forever Manchester

Charity Number: 1017504

Annual Expenditure: £3.0M
Bolton, Bury, Manchester City, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford City, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan

Contact Info

Website: www.forevermanchester.com

Phone: 0161 214 0940

Email: info@forevermanchester.com

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £60 million+ (cumulative since 1989)
  • Decision Time: 6 weeks
  • Grant Range: £500 - £10,000 (depending on fund)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Manchester only (10 boroughs)
  • Projects Supported: 1,300+ annually

Contact Details

Website: www.forevermanchester.com

Email: info@forevermanchester.com (general) / awards@forevermanchester.com (applications)

Phone: 0161 214 0940

Forever Manchester provides help and advice on how to apply for funding, how to fill in their online application forms, and ensures groups have the correct policies and documentation in place to access funding.

Overview

Forever Manchester (Charity No. 1017504) is Greater Manchester's Community Foundation, established in 1989 as the only charity dedicated to raising money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester. Since its founding, Forever Manchester has delivered over £60 million into local communities, currently supporting over 1,300 community projects annually. The foundation takes a grassroots approach, focusing on small, community-based and locally controlled groups that manage themselves and encourage volunteers. Recent expansion includes increasing their 2024 festive season awards from 125 to 175 grants due to overwhelming demand (over 350 applications), demonstrating their commitment to meeting community needs. The organization operates multiple named funds in partnership with businesses and trusts, each targeting specific community priorities while maintaining their core mission of supporting locally-driven initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Forever Manchester Awards: Up to £1,000 (online portal, rolling basis) - Core program for grassroots community organisations with annual income under £25,000
  • SWEF Enterprise Fund: £500 or £2,000 (application-based) - For young entrepreneurs aged 18-30; £500 for start-up/pre-revenue phase, £2,000 for trading businesses under 2 years old
  • Voicescape Community Fund: Varies (open application) - For groups addressing cost-of-living crisis and providing education and skills development
  • CDL Fund: Varies (open application) - Digital inclusion, education, employability, arts and culture, and disadvantaged groups
  • Manchester Building Society Community Fund: Varies (application-based) - Work and employability support services with diversity and inclusion focus
  • Nourish the Nation: Up to £10,000 (seasonal) - Summer holiday food and activity programs for school children
  • The NextGen Fund: Varies (eligibility: income under £50,000) - Youth-focused initiatives
  • NOMA Fund: £1,000-£1,500 (varies by round) - Groups working with young people aged 11-25 within the M60 boundary

All applications follow the same core online process regardless of specific fund.

Priority Areas

Forever Manchester funds a wide range of community projects including:

  • Mental health support groups
  • Disability groups
  • Junior football teams and sports initiatives
  • Food banks and hunger relief
  • Refugee support networks
  • Arts and music projects
  • Environmental projects
  • Social groups (e.g., knit & natter groups)
  • Education and skills development
  • Digital inclusion initiatives
  • Employability support
  • Youth services (particularly ages 11-25)
  • Cost-of-living crisis support

What They Don't Fund

  • Activities that have already taken place or been paid for
  • Contributions to major appeals
  • Activities promoting political or religious beliefs
  • Activity which should be provided by statutory services
  • Salaries (excluded from some specific funds)
  • Sports clubs and groups (specifically excluded from CDL Fund currently)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Chair: Al Mackin, Founder and Director of theEword
  • Vice Chair: Sandy Lindsay MBE, Owner/Managing Director of Tangerine PR and Director of The Juice Academy
  • William Lees-Jones, Managing Director of J.W. Lees (Trustee)

Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

Senior Leadership Team:

  • Chief Executive: Nick Massey CBE
  • Deputy Chief Executive: Rachel Hirst (promoted from Director of Communities; 20+ years voluntary sector experience)
  • Director of Operations
  • Finance Director
  • Director of Philanthropy

Key Quote from Leadership:

Nick Massey CBE on Forever Manchester's responsive approach: “Government help is promised, but cannot act at the speed that our local communities can when they mobilise themselves like this. In the short term we will be using the fund to support local people that we know are helping the most vulnerable during the outbreak. Initiatives such as food banks, organisations checking on vulnerable older people and mental health initiatives to name a few examples of the live-saving activity being taken on by people where you live.”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications are submitted through Forever Manchester's online application portal, accessible via their website at forevermanchester.com/funding/. The same core application process applies to all open funding programmes.

Pre-Application Support:

  • FAQs available about funding programmes and how they work
  • Supporting Information page to help with required documents
  • Direct support available via awards@forevermanchester.com or phone 0161 214 0940

Required Documentation (typical requirements):

  • Copy of governing document
  • Names and addresses of Management Committee/Board of Directors
  • Safeguarding policy (dated and reviewed within the last year)
  • Annual accounts for the last completed financial year
  • Recent bank statement showing group's name, address and transactions

Important: For some funds, Forever Manchester cannot follow up about missing information, and applications submitted without required information and supporting documents will not be taken forward for consideration.

Decision Timeline

  • Receipt Confirmation: Within 5 working days
  • Assessment Period: Applicants may be invited to a meeting during assessment
  • Final Decision: Within 6 weeks
  • Notification: Direct communication via email/phone

Success Rates

No specific success rates published. However, in 2024 Forever Manchester received over 350 applications for their festive awards program, originally planning for 125 awards but expanding to 175 to meet demand, suggesting approximately a 50% success rate for that round.

In partnership programs, Forever Manchester has awarded significant funding (e.g., £100,000 to 104 grassroots groups in 2021/22).

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication waiting periods or policies for unsuccessful applicants were not published in available materials. Groups are encouraged to contact Forever Manchester directly at awards@forevermanchester.com to discuss feedback and future applications.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from Forever Manchester

Think Before You Apply: “Explore why the product or service is needed or will succeed, and the more evidence you can provide regarding the need for your service and your research and plans to date, the better.”

Local Knowledge Valued: “Local groups understand how they can best work in their communities, so [applicants should] explain what they want to do and what positive things their activity will provide for those in their community.”

Flexibility: Forever Manchester doesn't want to limit the type of request you can make - they trust grassroots groups to know what their communities need.

Key Terminology and Language

Forever Manchester uses inclusive, community-focused language:

  • “Grassroots community organisations”
  • “Community-based and locally controlled”
  • “Encourage volunteers”
  • “Live-saving activity”
  • “Locally-driven initiatives”
  • “Groups that just need a bit of financial help”

Project Examples

Forever Manchester has funded:

  • Breakfast clubs for schools (£1,000 grants via Kellogg's partnership)
  • Young entrepreneur businesses (£500-£2,000 via SWEF)
  • Mental health support groups
  • Refugee support networks
  • Youth projects (ages 11-25)
  • Food banks and hunger relief programs
  • Arts, music, and environmental projects

What Makes Applications Stand Out

  1. Evidence of Need: Demonstrate clear research and evidence for why your project is needed in your specific community
  2. Community Connection: Show you understand your local community and how your group is embedded within it
  3. Volunteer Engagement: Highlight how you encourage community participation and volunteering
  4. Clear Positive Impact: Articulate specific positive outcomes for beneficiaries
  5. Proper Documentation: Ensure all required policies (especially safeguarding) are current and complete
  6. Realistic Planning: Show you've thought through implementation and sustainability

Reasons for Rejection

If unsuccessful, Forever Manchester will explain why and may provide feedback on how to improve your case. Common issues likely include:

  • Missing required documentation
  • Applications for activities already completed
  • Requests that fall under statutory service provision
  • Insufficient evidence of need or community benefit
  • Applications from groups outside Greater Manchester or above income thresholds

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic Specificity is Critical: You must be based in one of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs - this is non-negotiable and Forever Manchester exclusively serves this area.
  1. Know Your Income Threshold: Most programs target organizations with annual income under £25,000 (some under £50,000) - check specific fund requirements before applying.
  1. Complete Documentation is Essential: Have your governing document, current safeguarding policy, recent accounts, and bank statement ready before starting your application - incomplete applications may not be considered.
  1. Evidence of Need is Paramount: Forever Manchester emphasizes research and evidence - demonstrate why your service is needed and how you've identified this need in your community.
  1. Embrace the Grassroots Ethos: Forever Manchester values small, locally-controlled groups with volunteer involvement - emphasize your community roots and local knowledge.
  1. Be Ready for a Quick Response: With 6-week decision timelines, Forever Manchester operates efficiently - be prepared to engage quickly if invited for a meeting or discussion.
  1. Multiple Funds, One Process: Explore all Forever Manchester's open funds as the same application system applies - you may find multiple suitable opportunities through different partner programs.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References

  1. Forever Manchester official website - Funding & Support page. https://forevermanchester.com/funding/
  1. Forever Manchester - About Us. https://forevermanchester.com/about/
  1. Charity Commission Register - Forever Manchester (Charity No. 1017504). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1017504
  1. Forever Manchester - Awards Process. https://forevermanchester.com/funding/awards-process/
  1. Forever Manchester - SWEF Enterprise Fund. https://forevermanchester.com/fund/swef-enterprise-fund/
  1. Forever Manchester - Forever Manchester Awards. https://forevermanchester.com/fund/forever-manchester-awards/
  1. Forever Manchester - CDL Fund. https://forevermanchester.com/fund/cdl-fund/
  1. Forever Manchester - Board of Trustees. https://forevermanchester.com/about/board-of-trustees/
  1. Forever Manchester - Staff. https://forevermanchester.com/about/staff/
  1. Forever Manchester - Announces Trio of Appointments press release. https://forevermanchester.com/forever-manchester-announces-trio-of-appointments-to-strengthen-leadership-and-philanthropy-teams/
  1. Manchester Community Central - Forever Manchester Awards. https://manchestercommunitycentral.org/support-groups/funding-opportunities/forever-manchester-awards
  1. Giving is Great - Forever Manchester Charity Factsheet. https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1017504