Gmca Community Grants

Charity Number: CUSTOM_BE914D44

Annual Expenditure: £1.7M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5 million (over three years)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 6-10 weeks from application deadline
  • Grant Range: Up to £100,000 (with local authority caps)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Manchester (10 boroughs)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.wea.org.uk/greater-manchester-community-grants

Email: gmcacommunitylearning@wea.org.uk

Managing Agent: Workers' Educational Association (WEA), on behalf of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Pre-Application Support: Capacity building support available for smaller VCSE organisations wanting to apply

Overview

The GMCA Community Grants Programme was launched by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in partnership with the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) as a £5 million initiative over three years. The programme is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Greater Manchester Multiply, and Greater Manchester's devolved Adult Education Budget. Its mission is to enable local voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and Housing Associations to deliver community-based projects that mobilise disadvantaged or excluded unemployed and inactive people, helping them progress towards further education and inclusive employment. The programme was designed to ensure support is targeted to those who need it most, particularly residents with basic entry-level qualifications, and to be delivered in the heart of communities. A key strategic focus is accessibility, with the programme offering capacity building support to smaller grassroots organisations to ensure the fund benefits as many community groups as possible.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Two Main Funding Strands:

  • Grant Range: Up to £100,000 (subject to local authority caps)
  • Focus: Developing essential life skills through new and innovative ways of engaging residents
  • Targets: English, Maths, and IT skills development
  • Aims to increase participation in Adult Skills provision
  • Application Method: Online application through WEA
  • Rolling basis with fixed deadlines
  • Grant Range: Up to £100,000 (subject to local authority caps)
  • Focus: Re-engagement and engagement activity for residents who would benefit from employment programmes
  • Tackles barriers preventing residents from engaging with existing learning opportunities
  • Linked to wider UKSPF People & Skills activity and Working Well programmes
  • Application Method: Online application through WEA
  • Rolling basis with fixed deadlines

Important: All projects must be completed by April 2026

Priority Areas

The programme prioritises projects that:

  • Support disadvantaged or excluded unemployed and inactive people
  • Target residents with basic entry-level qualifications
  • Overcome barriers preventing participation in existing programmes
  • Deliver flexible and free local offers in the heart of communities
  • Mobilise hard-to-reach and disengaged residents/communities
  • Progress people into further education and inclusive employment
  • Operate within Greater Manchester's 10 local authority areas (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan)

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not detailed in public materials, the programme requires:

  • Compliance with relevant local authority funding caps (caps vary by borough)
  • Projects must align with skills development or employment progression objectives
  • Projects must be completed by April 2026
  • Applications cannot exceed £100,000
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Governance and Leadership

The GMCA Community Grants Programme is delivered through a partnership structure:

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA): Lead authority responsible for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with overall accountability for how the fund is administered in the city region. GMCA has devolved responsibility for the Adult Education Budget since August 2019.

Workers' Educational Association (WEA): Appointed as the managing agent for the Community Grants Programme, working closely with GMCA and key stakeholders to ensure grants are strategically targeted.

Assessment Panel: Applications (with contact details removed) are passed to an assessment panel for review, followed by a meeting to agree on awards.

The programme operates under GMCA's commitment to the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Accord, with a Fair Funding Protocol approved in October 2023 to improve the financial relationship between GMCA and VCSE organisations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Visit the WEA Greater Manchester Community Grants webpage
  2. Review eligibility criteria for both funding strands
  3. Select the funding strand most relevant to your organisation
  4. Complete online application form through WEA's system
  5. Ensure compliance with relevant local authority funding cap
  6. Contact gmcacommunitylearning@wea.org.uk with questions

Current Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 13th June 2025

Decision Timeline

  • Assessment Period: 6 weeks from closing date (expected timeframe)
  • Maximum Notification Time: All applicants will be notified by email within 10 weeks of the closing date
  • Notification Method: Email to applicants
  • Project Completion: All funded projects must be completed by April 2026

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available at this time. For information about competitive levels, contact the programme directly.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not specified in publicly available materials. Prospective applicants should contact WEA directly at gmcacommunitylearning@wea.org.uk for clarification on reapplication waiting periods or restrictions.

Application Success Factors

Capacity Building Support

The programme offers capacity building support to smaller voluntary and community organisations that want to apply. This is a significant advantage for grassroots groups and demonstrates the funder's commitment to making the programme accessible. Organisations should enquire about this support when considering an application.

Strategic Alignment

The programme emphasises that WEA works closely with GMCA and key stakeholders to ensure grants are “strategically targeted, reaching those who need it most and delivered in the heart of communities.” Applications should demonstrate:

  • How projects will reach disadvantaged, excluded, unemployed, or inactive residents
  • Community-based delivery in local areas
  • Targeting of residents with basic entry-level qualifications
  • Links to wider UKSPF People & Skills activity or Working Well programmes (for Employment Pathway strand)

Programme Design Features

The Community Grants Programme was specifically designed to:

  • Allow VCSE organisations to bid for smaller amounts of funding
  • Support local community-based projects
  • Benefit grassroots groups
  • Support "some of the region's hardest to reach and disengaged residents/communities"

Applications should emphasise grassroots delivery, community connection, and reaching excluded populations.

Innovation and Engagement

For the Essential Life Skills strand, the programme seeks “new and innovative ways of engaging with residents” in English, Maths, and IT skills. Applications should demonstrate creative approaches to engagement and skills development.

Local Authority Caps

Each of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs has a funding cap to ensure equitable distribution across the region. Applicants should contact WEA to understand the specific cap for their local authority area and how it may affect their application.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Access Capacity Building Support: If you're a smaller organisation, proactively enquire about capacity building support when preparing your application. This demonstrates the funder's commitment to helping grassroots groups succeed.
  1. Emphasise Community Connection: The programme prioritises projects delivered “in the heart of communities” for “hardest to reach and disengaged residents.” Strong community roots and connections are critical success factors.
  1. Target Residents with Basic Qualifications: Applications should specifically focus on residents with basic entry-level qualifications who face barriers to accessing existing programmes.
  1. Choose the Right Strand: Carefully assess whether your project fits better with Essential Life Skills (English, Maths, IT) or Employment Pathway (progression to work). Align your application language and outcomes with the chosen strand.
  1. Link to Wider Programmes: For Employment Pathway applications, demonstrate connections to wider UKSPF People & Skills activity or Working Well programmes to show strategic alignment.
  1. Check Local Authority Caps: Before developing your budget, contact WEA to understand the funding cap for your borough. This will help you scope your project appropriately.
  1. Plan for April 2026 Completion: All projects must be completed by April 2026. Build realistic timelines that account for the 6-10 week decision period and ensure deliverability within this timeframe.

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