Introduction
Cheshire Community Foundation (CCF) is an independent charitable foundation that connects individuals, families, businesses and public-sector partners with community organisations addressing local needs across Cheshire and Warrington in England.
The Foundation raises and manages charitable funds, provides philanthropic advice and distributes grants to voluntary organisations, community groups, social enterprises and eligible individuals. Its work focuses on reducing inequality, strengthening grassroots organisations and helping people and communities thrive.
Cheshire Community Foundation is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under charity number 1143711 and operates as a charitable company limited by guarantee under company number 07731278.
History and Background
Cheshire Community Foundation was established and registered as a charity in 2011. It was created to provide a trusted and locally informed mechanism through which donors could support effective charitable work across Cheshire and Warrington.
Since its establishment, the Foundation has developed relationships with:
- Local residents and families
- Charitable trusts and foundations
- Businesses and corporate partners
- Local authorities and public-sector bodies
- Grassroots charities and voluntary organisations
- Community leaders and infrastructure organisations
The Foundation combines community knowledge, local data and consultation with charities to identify areas where funding can have the greatest impact. It reviews information from sources such as the Office for National Statistics, the North West Poverty Monitor and NPC’s Local Needs Databank.
CCF also conducts surveys, interviews, focus groups and place-based consultations. Its community engagement has included consultations in areas such as Crewe, Macclesfield, Congleton and Warrington.
According to publicly reported organisational information, Cheshire Community Foundation has invested approximately £14 million in local communities since 2011, supporting more than 2,000 projects and helping over 1.4 million people. Figures should be checked against the Foundation’s latest annual report before publication because cumulative impact totals change over time.
Mission and Purpose
Cheshire Community Foundation’s central purpose is to connect people who care about their communities with causes that matter. It seeks to make philanthropy accessible, informed and effective while helping local organisations secure the resources they need.
Its vision is a Cheshire and Warrington where everybody can thrive. The Foundation aims to ensure that local organisations can access grant funding that addresses genuine community needs and empowers marginalised or disadvantaged groups.
Its work is organised around five principal funding priorities.
Tackling Poverty and Disadvantage
The Foundation supports services that respond to financial hardship, food insecurity, homelessness, unequal access to essential resources and other forms of social or economic disadvantage.
Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing
Funding may support counselling, emotional wellbeing, social connection, community activities and projects that reduce loneliness and isolation.
Building Stronger and More Resilient Communities
CCF invests in grassroots organisations, community infrastructure, volunteering, civic participation and collaborative initiatives that enable residents to shape their communities.
Developing Education, Skills and Employment
The Foundation supports projects that improve access to education, training, employability skills and economic opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups.
Building Awareness of the Green Agenda
Environmental funding supports community education, sustainable practices, carbon reduction and projects that contribute to greener, healthier neighbourhoods.
Governance and Structure
Cheshire Community Foundation operates as both a registered charity and a charitable company. Its governance is overseen by a Board of Trustees, which is legally responsible for the organisation’s strategic direction, financial management, regulatory compliance and charitable activities.
The Foundation’s trustees bring experience from business, finance, public service, philanthropy and the voluntary sector. According to the Charity Commission’s register, the Foundation has a multi-member trustee board, with Howard Platt listed as Chair at the time of review.
A professional staff team, led by the Chief Executive, manages the Foundation’s day-to-day operations. Its responsibilities include:
- Managing relationships with donors and fundholders
- Designing and administering grant programmes
- Assessing funding applications
- Conducting organisational due diligence
- Monitoring funded projects
- Preparing impact reports
- Supporting partnerships between donors and charities
- Researching local community needs
Grant decisions are made through panels that may include trustees, staff members, community representatives and donor representatives. Recommendations from donor-advised funds remain subject to final ratification by the Board of Trustees.
The Foundation maintains governance policies covering safeguarding, equality and inclusion, conflicts of interest, financial controls, reserves, complaints and risk management. It also follows the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice.
Funding and Grants
Cheshire Community Foundation receives funding from individuals, families, companies, charitable trusts, local authorities and other organisations. It manages donations through several different funding arrangements.
Endowment Funds
Endowment funds are invested to generate income for future grant-making. This approach enables donors to create a long-term charitable resource that can continue supporting communities over many years.
Flow-Through Funds
Flow-through funds are distributed within a specified period. They are suitable for donors who want their contribution to support local organisations or urgent community priorities more immediately.
Contracted Funds
The Foundation may administer funds on behalf of public bodies, companies or other funding organisations. These grants are distributed according to the objectives and conditions established in a formal agreement.
Donor-Advised and Bespoke Funds
Individuals, families and businesses can establish their own charitable funds with the Foundation. CCF helps donors identify community needs, assess organisations, distribute grants and measure results.
Donors can select a geographical area, community group or charitable theme they wish to support. The Foundation then provides grant-management services and annual impact reporting, which may include project data, photographs, case studies and beneficiary outcomes.
Types of Grants Available
The availability, value and eligibility conditions of grants vary between funding rounds. Organisations should always consult the Foundation’s current grant opportunities before preparing an application.
The Foundation’s grant-making framework includes the following categories.
Small Grants
Small grants generally provide up to £2,500, or up to £5,000 in exceptional circumstances. They are designed for grassroots organisations, small community projects and groups applying to the Foundation for the first time.
Project Grants
Project grants can provide up to £30,000 for larger initiatives that demonstrate measurable community benefits and align with at least one of the Foundation’s five priorities.
Strategic Grants
Strategic grants exceeding £30,000 may support transformative or longer-term initiatives. These grants can help improve service delivery, strengthen organisational capacity or address multiple community priorities.
Emergency Response Funds
Emergency programmes provide rapid financial assistance when communities face an urgent crisis, such as a public-health emergency, natural disaster or sudden increase in hardship.
Individual and Young Entrepreneur Grants
Certain programmes provide grants directly to eligible individuals. Under the Foundation’s grant-making policy, support of up to £2,000 may be available to young entrepreneurs developing an early-stage business.
Bespoke Donor Programmes
Bespoke funding programmes are created around priorities selected by particular donors. Grant values, eligible locations and thematic requirements vary from one programme to another.
General Eligibility Requirements
Depending on the specific programme, applications may be accepted from:
- Registered charities
- Constituted voluntary and community organisations
- Unincorporated community groups
- Community Interest Companies limited by guarantee
- Companies limited by guarantee with clear not-for-profit provisions
- Eligible individuals under designated funding programmes
Applicant organisations generally need to:
- Be based in Cheshire or deliver services that directly benefit communities in Cheshire or Warrington
- Have at least three unrelated trustees or directors
- Maintain an appropriate governing document
- Operate a bank account in the organisation’s name
- Require at least two unrelated signatories for financial transactions
- Maintain appropriate safeguarding and equality policies
- Provide accounts or financial statements
- Demonstrate charitable or social objectives
- Meet the criteria of the particular funding programme
CCF does not generally support retrospective costs, political campaigning, religious promotion, statutory responsibilities or projects that duplicate existing services. Additional exclusions may apply, so applicants should review the Foundation’s grant-making policies.
Grant Assessment and Accountability
Applications are reviewed for their quality, eligibility, financial position, governance and alignment with the relevant programme.
The assessment process may include:
- An initial eligibility and programme-fit review
- Examination of the organisation’s governing documents
- Financial and safeguarding checks
- Assessment of proposed activities and outcomes
- Consideration of local needs and existing services
- Review by a grant decision-making panel
- Final authorisation by the Foundation
Successful applicants receive grant conditions and must normally provide monitoring information. This enables the Foundation and its donors to understand how funding was used and what changes the project achieved.
CCF has committed to transparent and accessible grant-making. It publishes historical grant information in the 360Giving Data Standard, allowing members of the public, researchers and charities to examine its funding data.
Major Programs and Initiatives
The Warrington Fund
The Warrington Fund pools contributions from businesses and other local partners to address poverty, loneliness, isolation and hidden homelessness across Warrington.
In 2024, the programme offered:
- Microgrants of up to £1,000
- Project grants of up to £15,000 over two years
- Strategic grants of up to £30,000 over three years
The programme initially concentrated on building confidence and reducing social isolation. Its 2025 priorities included tackling poverty and helping residents facing economic hardship achieve greater stability.
Thriving Families
The Thriving Families initiative supports families across Cheshire West and Chester before manageable difficulties develop into serious crises.
Examples of supported services include:
- In-home support for parents
- Family routines and relationship-building
- Early intervention and practical guidance
- Emotional resilience and wellbeing support
- Assistance for families experiencing financial hardship
- Services helping children engage with education
Organisations associated with this work include Koala North West and Home-Start, which provide practical and emotional support to families in different parts of Cheshire West and Chester.
SWEF Business Grants
The SWEF programme supports young entrepreneurs who require financial assistance to develop a new or early-stage business. Grants may help recipients purchase equipment, develop products, obtain professional support or overcome practical barriers to business growth.
Examples publicised by CCF include support for enterprises such as HRX Trade, JLB Valets, Brush N’ Bone, Karolina Naturals, The Hodgepodge Wizard and Insight Xpert.
Westminster Foundation Youth Panel
The Westminster Foundation Youth Panel enables young people to participate in funding decisions. The initiative gives youth representatives an opportunity to identify priorities, review proposals and award grants to projects affecting young people.
A publicly reported funding round saw the panel award £30,000 to local initiatives, demonstrating the Foundation’s commitment to participatory grant-making and youth leadership.
Place-Based Community Funds
Cheshire Community Foundation develops geographically targeted funds that enable local donors to support a defined town, borough or neighbourhood.
This place-based model helps the Foundation:
- Identify needs that may be hidden by county-wide statistics
- Build partnerships between businesses and charities
- Coordinate donations from multiple sources
- Support small organisations with strong local relationships
- Respond to the different challenges experienced across Cheshire and Warrington
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
The impact of Cheshire Community Foundation extends across poverty reduction, family support, mental health, employment, social inclusion and community development.
Supporting Families and Children
Through initiatives such as Thriving Families, funding helps parents manage daily challenges, improve household routines and strengthen relationships. Early intervention can prevent families from reaching crisis point and reduce pressure on statutory services.
Reducing Poverty and Food Insecurity
Funded organisations provide affordable food, emergency assistance, advice and practical support. Community pantries, including CORE Pantry, help residents obtain essential groceries while preserving dignity and personal choice.
Improving Mental Health and Social Connection
Community projects address loneliness, isolation and poor mental health through support groups, accessible activities, befriending and trusted local services. These interventions are particularly important for older residents, carers, vulnerable adults and people facing financial hardship.
Supporting Young Entrepreneurs
Individual business grants allow young people to test ideas, purchase essential tools and move towards self-employment. Alongside their economic value, these grants can improve confidence, skills and long-term financial independence.
Strengthening Grassroots Organisations
Small and project grants enable local charities to maintain services, recruit volunteers, improve facilities and respond to emerging needs. Funding smaller organisations can be especially effective because they often have close relationships with marginalised communities.
Promoting Community-Led Decision-Making
Initiatives such as youth panels and bespoke local funds allow residents to influence how resources are distributed. This helps funding decisions reflect lived experience and community priorities.
Increasing Transparency
CCF publishes grant information through 360Giving and maintains a public funding archive covering grants awarded since 2016. This supports accountability and enables researchers, charities and funders to analyse patterns in local philanthropy.
Conclusion
Cheshire Community Foundation is an important source of community grant funding and philanthropic expertise across Cheshire and Warrington. By connecting donors with trusted local organisations, it directs charitable resources towards poverty reduction, mental health, stronger communities, education, employment and environmental awareness.
Its combination of local research, professional grant management, donor services and community engagement enables both small grassroots groups and larger strategic initiatives to access funding. Programmes such as the Warrington Fund, Thriving Families, SWEF Business Grants and youth-led grant-making illustrate how the Foundation responds to different forms of need.
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