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Voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations across Cheshire and Warrington are set to benefit from £650,000 in new funding to support community projects, improve local spaces and help people thrive. The investment has been secured through the Combined Authority’s Mayoral Investment Fund, with CWIP and its partners, including VSNW, working to turn funding into lasting change for local communities.
A £650,000 investment has been secured through Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority’s Mayoral Investment Fund to create new opportunities for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations across the region.
The funding will support a new VCFSE Grant Programme, led by Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Partnership (CWIP), which brings together Cheshire Community Action, Cheshire West Voluntary Action, CVS Cheshire East, Warrington Voluntary Action, Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW) and Cheshire Community Foundation.
Warren Escadale, Chief Executive of VSNW, said: “Securing support from the Mayoral Investment Fund is a huge boost for our partnership and the VCFSE sector across Cheshire and Warrington.
“This investment backs the organisations at the heart of our communities, the ones driving prevention, strengthening local assets, and creating real change.
“Working with the Combined Authority, we’ll channel this funding where it can spark momentum, grow ideas, and deliver lasting impact for people and places across the region.”
The investment comprises £265,000 in revenue funding and £385,000 in capital funding. It forms part of the Combined Authority’s Celebrating Place: Communities, Culture and Renewal programme, recognising the role that community organisations play in bringing people together, tackling inequalities and creating positive change.
Councillor Jean Flaherty, Portfolio Lead for Communities, Culture and Rural Affairs, Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, added: “We want the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority to have a positive relationship with our VCFSE sector, based on partnership, collaboration and shared ambition.
“These grants are about more than funding projects. They are about empowering communities, supporting innovation, and ensuring local people help shape the future of Cheshire and Warrington.”
The grant programme has three key strands:
The programme will be delivered through two funding rounds, with £301,000 available in 2026–27 and a further £349,000 in 2027–28.
The first funding round is now open and closes on 22 November 2026. Awards are expected to be made in December 2026, with delivery beginning in early 2027.
Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) will oversee applications and evaluation on behalf of CWIP, providing guidance and resources to help organisations understand the funding opportunities.
