Announcing the organisations receiving funding from us this year…
Back in September, we opened the call to bids for our next round of our Greater Together Resilience Fund. This year’s £100,000 fund, distributed on a commissioning bases to various organisations working in our regions, is focused on building Healthy Communities. Hopeful organisations had to clearly demonstrate and evidence in the application process that they can support our customers with their health and wellbeing, with a particular emphasis on early intervention or prevention services, or community cohesion activities and projects.
More widely, our Community Investment Team, and regional Community Partnership Managers, who allocate the funding, were looking for applicants providing support with:
In total, 84 organisations applied for our funding. This included 23 in the North, 42 in the South, 13 in our Central region, and five in our East Region – as well as a London-based national organisation. Of these, 20 were successful, and the total fund has been split between the regions into:
The organisations are…
| Organisation | Region | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Stanleys:
Community centre located in Morecambe, Lancashire. Offers youth programs, community support, and social activities and focuses on creating a safe and inclusive space for young people and local residents. |
North | £5,000 |
| Maundy Relief:
Grassroots charity based in Accrington, Lancashire, UK. It provides holistic, person-centred support to individuals facing poverty, homelessness, mental health challenges, and social exclusion. |
North | £5,000 |
| Blackpool FC Community Trust:
Official charity of Blackpool Football Club, based at Bloomfield Road Stadium. It is a forward-thinking organization that works to improve lives across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast through sport, education, health, and community engagement. |
North | £5,000 |
| Idle Women:
Women-led arts and social justice organization based in Lancashire, UK, dedicated to creating safe, creative, and empowering spaces for women—particularly those affected by austerity, violence, and marginalization. |
North | £7,500 |
| Renaissance:
Community-based support for substance abuse and sexual health. Operates across Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen. Its mission is to deliver high-quality, needs-led services, promoting holistic routes to change and improved quality of life. |
North | £1,000 |
| Flourish Together:
Social enterprise that supports social entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders—especially women—to create positive change in their communities through enterprise and innovation. |
South | £6,500 |
| Citizens Advice:
Citizens Advice is a UK-based charitable organization that provides free, independent, confidential, and impartial advice to help people resolve a wide range of issues, especially legal matters. |
South | £5,750 |
| Cheshire East CVS:
Cheshire East CVS (Community & Voluntary Services Cheshire East) is a registered charity and Local Infrastructure Organisation that supports the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector across Cheshire East. |
South | £3,500 |
| Salford Community Leisure:
Salford Community Leisure (SCL) is a Community Benefit Society which operates independently from Salford City Council and is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people in Salford through access to sport, leisure, and cultural opportunities. |
South | £4,750 |
| Access Sport:
National charity dedicated to transforming the lives of disadvantaged and disabled young people through inclusive community sport. |
South | £4,000 |
| WETA:
Women’s Empowerment Through Art (WETA) is a UK-based community organization that uses creative expression, cultural activities, and wellness programs to empower women—particularly those from marginalized or underserved communities. |
South | £4,000 |
| Boost Wellbeing CIC:
Stockport-based social enterprise founded in 2017. Its mission is to use sport and physical activity for social good, particularly to support people experiencing mental ill health, loneliness, and social isolation. |
South | £1,500 |
| Eat Well Get Well CIC:
Community Interest Company (CIC) based in Manchester and established in 2022. It operates as a not-for-profit social enterprise focused on promoting health, nutrition, and wellbeing through education and community engagement. |
South | £4,000 |
| SnapBack Sounds:
Established programme designed to support young adults, aged 16 to 25, who are recovering from substance misuse by engaging them in therapeutic creative expression. The programme is delivered from Gorse Hill Studios in Old Trafford which is Youth Arts Charity who believe all young people have the right to social, emotional, educational and cultural investment in their future. |
South | £4,000 |
| Health Watch:
Independent national champion for people who use health and social care services in England. Its role is to ensure that the voices of patients, carers, and the public are heard by those who plan, run, and regulate health and care services. |
East | £10,000 |
| Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Partnership:
Official charitable arm of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Its mission is to develop cohesive communities across South Yorkshire by using the power of football and sport to inspire and support people of all ages and backgrounds. |
East | £5,000 |
| Local Food First:
Community Interest Company based in Stockport, established in 2023. It is focused on promoting local, sustainable food systems and community wellbeing through growing, education, and food-related services. |
Central | £3,000 |
| Full Circle CIC: Community Interest Company based in Oldham and focused on empowering young people and building stronger communities. Guided by youth voices, they offer engaging programs that foster personal growth, social connection, and community development. | Central | £7,500 |
| Northern Lilly:
Social enterprise based in Failsworth, Oldham, dedicated to connecting people to nature and improving physical and mental wellbeing through outdoor and community-based activities. |
Central | £5,000 |
| Spark:
Charity that helps young people prepare for the world of work by connecting them with employers, schools, and community organizations. |
Central | £8,000 |
63 organisations were rejected ultimately, however, of these, nine had follow-up meetings with their regional Community Partnership Manager, and are now being given the opportunity to work with Daniel Mountford (Funding Partnership Lead) to discover other ways of working with Great Places and accessing external funds. These organisations are:
We’re proud of being more than just a landlord, and the real difference our partnerships can achieve. We look forward to seeing the great work that will come from this year’s funding!
