Introduction
Forever Manchester is Greater Manchester’s community foundation and the only charity dedicated to raising money to fund and support grassroots community activity across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.
History and Background
Forever Manchester was established in 1989 to connect charitable giving with the needs and ideas of local communities. Since its establishment, the charity has developed into an important source of funding, encouragement and practical support for volunteer-led organisations across the region.
Forever Manchester reports that it has delivered more than £67 million into local communities. It supports more than 1,300 grassroots community projects annually, including neighbourhood groups, youth activities, food banks, disability organisations, sports clubs and mental health initiatives.
As Greater Manchester’s community foundation, Forever Manchester understands local needs, manages charitable funds and connects businesses, individuals and other funders with community-led projects.
Mission and Purpose
Forever Manchester believes that connected communities create stronger and happier places. Its purpose is to support local people who work together to improve their neighbourhoods.
Its principal objectives include:
- Raising money for grassroots community activity across Greater Manchester.
- Providing accessible grants to locally managed community groups.
- Encouraging residents to participate in community activities and volunteering.
- Connecting businesses and individual donors with local causes.
- Strengthening relationships, skills and community leadership.
- Supporting projects designed and delivered by local residents.
The organisation focuses on providing a “hand up” to people who understand their communities and are prepared to take action.
Governance and Structure
Forever Manchester is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. Its registered charity number is 1017504, and its company registration number is 2785133.
The organisation is overseen by a Board of Trustees responsible for governance, financial oversight, strategic direction and regulatory compliance. The Board is supported by an executive leadership team and employees working across grant management, community development, fundraising, communications and partnerships.
Rebecca Durrant was appointed Chair of Forever Manchester after previously serving as its Treasurer. The charity announced in 2026 that Deputy Chief Executive Rachel Hirst would succeed Nick Massey CBE as Chief Executive following his planned retirement after 27 years of leadership.
Forever Manchester publishes reports describing its activities and community outcomes. These publications help donors, partners and residents understand how funding is raised, distributed and used.
Funding and Grants
Forever Manchester raises money from businesses, charitable trusts, individual donors, fundraising events and strategic partnerships. It uses these resources to provide grants and other support to grassroots organisations.
Businesses can work with the foundation to establish named community funds, sponsor fundraising activities, engage employees and direct charitable resources towards specific geographical areas or social priorities.
Individual supporters can contribute through donations, fundraising events, regular giving and other campaigns. Money raised by the charity remains focused on community activity within Greater Manchester.
Available grants differ in their objectives, award amounts, eligibility conditions and deadlines. Community groups should consult the charity’s funding opportunities before applying because individual funding rounds open and close throughout the year.
Who Can Apply for Forever Manchester Grants?
Eligibility varies between funds, but Forever Manchester generally supports small, locally controlled community groups operating within Greater Manchester.
Applicants commonly need to:
- Be based in one of Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs.
- Be community-based and locally managed.
- Demonstrate that local residents participate in managing or delivering the activity.
- Explain how the proposed project will benefit the community.
- Meet any income threshold specified by the particular fund.
- Maintain suitable financial records and organisational documents.
- Use the funding for future activities rather than costs already incurred.
Some programs accept applications from voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, while others focus specifically on smaller volunteer-led groups.
Activities promoting political or religious beliefs, work that should ordinarily be provided by statutory services, completed projects and major fundraising appeals are frequently ineligible. Applicants must check the rules for each individual program.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Forever Manchester Awards
The Forever Manchester Awards provide small grants for activities that bring people together and strengthen community connections.
In the 2025 funding round, locally managed groups with annual incomes below £25,000 could request up to £1,000. Eligible groups were required to operate in one of Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs.
The flexible nature of the program allows residents to propose activities that respond directly to local interests and needs. The published 2025 round is closed, and applicants should confirm whether a new round has opened.
Zuto Make a Difference Fund
The Zuto Make a Difference Fund is delivered through a partnership between Zuto and Forever Manchester.
The program supports grassroots community groups across Greater Manchester. Its 2026 round provided grants of up to £2,500 for small, community-based and locally controlled organisations.
The partnership demonstrates how a business can work with a community foundation to distribute charitable funding to projects operating close to its employees and customers.
Bright Futures Fund
The Bright Futures Fund supports projects that improve social mobility, develop skills and help people enter or return to employment.
The fund was created following a donation connected to the sale of The Juice Academy, an initiative established in 2013 to create digital marketing apprenticeships for young people.
Its 2026 round offered grants of up to £5,000 to eligible voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. Applicants needed to be based in Greater Manchester and have an annual income below £250,000.
Auto Trader Digital Inclusion Fund
The Auto Trader Digital Inclusion Fund supports community-led projects addressing digital exclusion across Greater Manchester.
Its 2026 round offered grants of up to £2,500 to grassroots organisations with annual incomes below £150,000. Supported activities could improve access to digital resources, help residents develop digital skills, connect people with essential services or reduce social isolation.
The fund recognises that digital access, affordability, connectivity, confidence and skills are increasingly important for participation in community life.
Voicescape Community Fund
The Voicescape Community Fund supports grassroots organisations responding to the cost-of-living crisis and providing education or skills-development activities.
Its 2026 funding round offered grants of up to £1,000. Applicants were required to operate within Greater Manchester and have an annual income below £150,000.
Projects could address immediate community needs while helping residents improve their knowledge, confidence and longer-term opportunities.
Together Energy Fund
The Together Energy Fund was established to help community centres and multi-use community hubs manage rising energy expenses.
Its 2025 round provided grants of up to £2,500 towards eligible gas and electricity costs. It targeted community spaces operated by charities or voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.
The program acknowledged that rising utility expenses can affect not only community centres but also the numerous local groups that rely on these venues.
DF Capital Foundation
Forever Manchester works with DF Capital to distribute funding to locally managed community organisations.
The 2026 DF Capital Foundation round offered grants of up to £2,500. Employees at DF Capital participate in reviewing applications, combining corporate giving with staff involvement and local community investment.
Asset-Based Community Development
Forever Manchester applies an Asset-Based Community Development approach that begins with the strengths, relationships, knowledge and abilities already present in local communities.
Instead of defining neighbourhoods only by their problems, the approach helps residents identify existing assets and use them to organise activities, develop connections and create locally owned solutions.
According to the charity’s published reports, its community-building work from 2011 to 2025 engaged nearly 6,000 residents, generated more than 70,000 hours of community activity and supported hundreds of projects through its grassroots funding.
Corporate and Philanthropic Partnerships
Forever Manchester helps companies develop community funds, fundraising campaigns and employee-engagement activities.
Corporate partners can:
- Establish a named charitable fund.
- Support a particular place or community issue.
- Sponsor fundraising events.
- Encourage workplace giving and volunteering.
- Participate in grant decision-making.
- Contribute professional knowledge and business networks.
These partnerships provide businesses with a structured way to invest in communities while allowing Forever Manchester to manage applications, due diligence and grant distribution.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Forever Manchester funds a broad range of grassroots activities rather than concentrating on a single social issue. Supported projects have included gardening groups, cultural celebrations, youth activities, mental health support, disability sports, refugee networks, food banks, community choirs and social groups for older residents.
From January to March 2025, the charity awarded £262,077 to 70 community groups. Forever Manchester estimated that these projects directly benefited more than 4,500 people.
Examples from that period included:
- A Mexican folk-dance group sharing traditional culture through performances.
- A disability sports club teaching participants to play boccia.
- A community organisation providing support to families affected by cancer.
Between September and December 2025, Forever Manchester distributed £294,832 to 160 local groups. The charity estimated that approximately 6,400 people directly benefited from those projects.
It also funded 139 projects through its Connecting Communities at Christmas initiative, distributing £17,375 to activities bringing residents together during the festive period.
Forever Manchester’s 2025 birthday fundraising event generated £106,825. The charity stated that all the money raised would remain in Greater Manchester and contribute to grassroots community funding.
How Forever Manchester’s Funding Model Creates Impact
Forever Manchester combines fundraising, local knowledge and community-led decision-making. This model allows donors to contribute through a trusted regional organisation while enabling residents to develop responses based on their direct experience.
Its funding model creates impact by:
- Keeping charitable funding within Greater Manchester.
- Supporting smaller groups that may struggle to access major national grants.
- Allowing community members to define their own priorities.
- Encouraging volunteering and resident participation.
- Connecting corporate resources with grassroots knowledge.
- Funding diverse activities across urban neighbourhoods and local communities.
The organisation’s approach recognises that small grants can generate meaningful outcomes when they support trusted groups with strong local relationships.
Conclusion
Forever Manchester is a significant source of grassroots community funding in Greater Manchester. Since 1989, it has connected businesses, donors and charitable partners with local people working to create stronger, safer and more connected neighbourhoods.
Through community grants, corporate funds, fundraising campaigns and Asset-Based Community Development, the foundation supports projects addressing social isolation, digital exclusion, employment, skills, health, culture, recreation and community wellbeing.
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