Introducing the recipients of the One Manchester Community Fund
We're excited to announce that we have chosen our grant recipients of the Community Fund.
Back in January of this year, we launched our One Manchester Community Fund to help projects and organisations that support our customers and help our local communities thrive.
We offered grants to fund initiatives that will make a real impact for our customers. We have now chosen fifteen local community groups and organisations to receive grants of between £3,000 and £10,000. The funding will be used to support our customers and enhance community wellbeing.
The projects include a 6-month eat well at home programme to help people in need with their health and well-being, social support sessions for young people impacted by family members in prison and a Men in Sheds programme to help reduce social isolation.
A few of the organisations have let us know what they’re hoping to achieve:
Emily Corner, Operations Manager at Sow the City said: "We are excited to commence our Greener Moss Side Project with the support of the One Manchester Community Fund. This funding is invaluable and will enable us to enhance local green spaces, benefitting both the community and the environment."
Kim from Visit from the Stork said: “This funding will allow us to continue providing a safe space for mothers and their children in Longsight, fostering connections and learning opportunities."
We’re looking forward to seeing how the local organisations progress with their projects and we’ll be sure to keep you updated.
Here is the full list of the grant recipients. These organisations are doing fantastic things for people in our local area, and you can follow the links to find out more about them.
Odd Arts
Creative and drama sessions aimed at reducing social inequality, reoffending, and social isolation among various groups.
Sow the City
Development of green spaces in Moss Side community, including tree and hedge planting; installation of food growing infrastructure; wildflower and bulb planting; installation of bird and bat boxes; and improvement of existing community growing spaces.
Caritas; Diocese of Salford
A 6-month project aimed at providing people with skills, knowledge, and means to affordably eat well at home, thereby improving their health and well-being.
The Untold Orchestra
Offering a variety of music and poetry projects suitable for all ages.
Tree of Life Centre
Providing sewing and knitting classes, organising men's football club activities, and hosting women's health sessions.
Hopton Court Breakfast Club
Breakfast club services for residents of Hopton Court.
Step Up MCR
Engaging in community storytelling activities to foster pride, unity, and well-being while addressing social isolation through narratives and art.
Royal Exchange
Chatty Craft initiative aimed at reducing isolation, fostering community cohesion, enhancing well-being, and building skills and confidence.
Breaking of the Dawn
Providing one-on-one sessions and social health and well-being support at Manchester Settlement and Resonance Centre to reduce isolation, stigma, and support reintegration, particularly for young people.
Beswick Urban Growers
Sow Social Club: Regular, weekly sessions offering opportunities for groups to learn about growing, harvesting, and cooking food together.
String of Hearts
Over 50s Project: Using music to connect older people, reduce isolation, and improve well-being within One Manchester independent schemes.
Healthy Me
Providing skills and employment opportunities for adults.
Reform Radio
Offering radio and tech training to improve general skills and employability, particularly focusing on NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) young people.
The Men's Shed at Gorton Monastery South
Men’s wellbeing project focused on reducing isolation and addressing mental and physical well-being.
Visit from the Stork South
A peer support group aimed at reducing social isolation, connecting communities of women and children, and supporting families during challenging times.
Issy Taylor, Head of Communities at One Manchester said: "We're committed to supporting our customers and communities to live well and thrive and the One Manchester Community Fund was designed to do just that.
We're overwhelmed by the amazing response we had to the fund and the volume of applications received. We've chosen some truly invaluable local projects to receive grants. We believe these community projects will make a real difference for our customers and local communities. From knitting classes to green space transformations and radio skills programmes for young people not in education, there is something for everyone to benefit from."
We’re excited to see how these project progress! We’ll provide updates on how they do, and how you be part of them or take part in any opportunities they create, here on our website.
The next round of applications for the One Manchester Community Fund will open in the winter.
