Manchester Building Society and Forever Manchester Launch £100,000 Fund for Grassroots Initiatives

Manchester Building Society and Forever Manchester have announced the launch of a new community fund to support grassroots organisations in the Greater Manchester area. The Manchester Building Society Community Fund will provide £100,000 in community grants for the next three years with £30,000 available now until the end of 2025. Local groups can apply to the fund for grants to enable community improvement projects, rooted in the needs of their group or local area.

The launch of the fund follows the announcement of Manchester Building Society’s return to the high street as part of a significant new phase of investment in the North West. Following its merger with Newcastle Building Society in 2023, Manchester Building Society has pledged to open branches, to provide accessible financial advice and build deep community relationships locally.  A place for meaningful conversations, its flagship new branch includes community space for local groups to use for free and will open at 74 King Street later in the year.

The Manchester Building Society Fund’s focus will be on projects that provide work and employability support services, with priority also given to those that foster diversity and inclusion. Broader community initiatives will also be considered with the aim of backing a range of organisations across the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.

The first grants will be made in May to five projects which will be selected from an existing shortlist. Each successful application will be awarded approximately £2,500 and additional grant funding will be made available throughout the course of the year. Applications will be judged by a panel made up of community funding specialists from Forever Manchester and community ambassador colleagues from Manchester Building Society.  If you would like to apply for future grant funding rounds which will take place in the second half of the year, please visit Funding & Support – Forever Manchester to register your application.

Forever Manchester has a proven track record of raising money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester. It supports a huge range of activities that help young people, older people and disabled people, as well as addressing homelessness, funding sports clubs and supporting environmental, education and employability projects.

Andrew Haigh, CEO of Manchester Building Society, and of the wider Newcastle Building Society Group said:

 “We’re committed to making a difference and improving lives by creating a welcoming and accessible branch space and providing meaningful support for our local communities. In addition to this one-off donation of £100,000 to Forever Manchester, going forward we aim to support the work of Forever Manchester through donations from our Group’s Community Fund.

“You might be trying to transform a local neighbourhood, a charity supporting young people with CV and interview clinics, or a community group providing resources and equipment for those looking to develop their skills. If so, we want to hear from you!”

Nick Massey, CEO of Forever Manchester said:

“Our focus is on working with local communities to inspire and encourage projects that make neighbourhoods happier, healthier and safer. We rely on local people, on the ground, around Greater Manchester to drive these projects forward and we’re thrilled to offer another means of support for these worthy causes, in partnership with Manchester Building Society. We’ve been impressed by Manchester Building Society’s commitment to community investment – as a team, they truly do practise what they preach. We’re looking forward to a successful long-term partnership.”