Sector News

The Forward Trust and Social Investment Business have launched the Forward Enterprise Fund. This will support enterprises and charities run by, or creating employment opportunities for, people with convictions and people in recovery from addiction. Successful applicants will receive a tailored mix of support to help grow their business. Repayable finance and grants for business support are available for start-ups with ideas they wish to develop through to established organisations, social enterprises and charities looking for investment to expand and grow.

Through the partnerships funding, the Big Lottery make grants over £10,000 for organisations who share responsibility and influence with others, who have a shared set of goals and values, and achieve their mission by starting with the bigger picture rather than just what their organisation can do on its own.

Small Charity Week celebrates and raises awareness of the essential work of the UK’s small charity sector who make an invaluable contribution to the lives of millions of individuals, communities and causes across the UK and the rest of the world.

It can be difficult to come to terms with being diagnosed with sight loss. It’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed, but it can help to have someone to talk to who can empathise and help you process the many emotions you can feel after your diagnosis; that's why Henshaws offers counselling in Manchester, and can even offer it over the phone.

Housing Futures: Community-led Alternatives for Greater Manchester is an action research partnership and the events programme is aimed at building up a Greater Manchester network of people, groups and organisations interested in promoting community-led housing, while also in thinking through the potential and challenges associated with these models.

They are particularly interested in thinking through what co-housing, community land trusts, and a variety of housing cooperative models have to offer low-income neighbourhoods potentially facing either decline or gentrification.

Young Manchester are pleased to announce a new fund for the city - the Positive Engagement Programme.

Localgiving has teamed up with the Postcode Community Trust to provide over 400 grants of £500 to small charities and community groups. Thanks to support from the players of People's Postcode Lottery, the Magic Little Grants Fund provides small charities and community groups the opportunity to access funding to deliver engaging physical activities, which help to overcome barriers to participation.

In 2018 the Garfield Weston Foundation is 60 years old and to celebrate, they are launching a one-off grants scheme, the Weston Anniversary Fund. This Fund will provide Capital grants ranging from £30,000 to £150,000.

The Wakeham Trust provides grants to help people rebuild their communities. They are particularly interested in neighbourhood projects, community arts projects, projects involving community service by young people, or projects set up by those who are socially excluded.

Flourish Together CIC support women to create the change they see needed in communities. They run an annual ‘Mentor-a-thon’ - a 12 hour mentoring marathon, where diverse women changemakers with broad experience across sectors, industries and communities come together in mini sounding board groups to help others trouble shoot a current challenge they are facing with a project, business or organisation.