Community grants in Greater Manchester: open now
As of 22 October 2026, GrantMatch lists 25 live grants for community groups in Greater Manchester from 11 funders. 3 close in the next 30 days, the first on 22 October 2026, 20 are open all year with no fixed deadline, and 4 were added this week. Each entry links to the official source.
Listings last checked 19 October 2026. Guide checked 21 October 2026.
Greater Manchester is made up of ten boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. Community funding here comes from borough councils, local voluntary sector bodies, housing providers, businesses and Forever Manchester, the community foundation for Greater Manchester.
This page lists live grants we have found for charities, CICs and community groups in Greater Manchester. Many cover one borough or a single neighbourhood, so check the area first. Grants open across the North West or the whole UK are on the North West and community groups pages.
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Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for community groups in Greater Manchester opens. Free to start, no card needed.
Create free accountClosing in the next 30 days (3)
Tameside Live Well Spaces Fund 2026
Action Together
Grants of £25,000 over 12 months for community spaces in Tameside working towards the Live Well Spaces Quality Mark, paid in stages. VCFSE organisations running community spaces in Tameside can apply. Submit an initial expression of interest to Action Together by 12 noon on 9 November 2026. Official source: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/tameside-live-well-spaces-fund-2026. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
Tameside Communities Fund 2026
Action Together
Micro grants of up to £1,000 and small grants of up to £11,000 for community-led prevention work that tackles health, social and economic inequality in Tameside. Constituted VCFSE groups based or working in Tameside that are members of Action Together (free to join) can apply. Email the application form to funding@actiontogether.org.uk by 12 noon on 9 November 2026. Official source: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/tameside-communities-fund-2026. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
DF Capital Foundation Fund
Forever Manchester / DF Capital Foundation
The DF Capital Foundation fund offers awards of £2,500 to grassroots community groups in Greater Manchester. It is run by Forever Manchester, which funds and supports community activity across the region. It suits small, local groups. You need to be based in any of the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, and your group's annual income must be less than £75,000. Each award is £2,500. The fund is open for applications now. It closes at 12 noon on 22 October 2026, so you will need to move quickly if you want to apply. Many other Forever Manchester funds are not open at the moment, which makes this one of the few currently taking applications. Forever Manchester manages a number of funds. It asks you to call before you apply, so the team can help you choose the best fund for your group. You can reach the Awards Team on 0161 214 0940 or at awards@forevermanchester.com. They can help with deadline dates, eligibility and criteria, or if you run into any problems. Forever Manchester also publishes FAQs that explain how its funding programmes work and who can apply. Its Supporting Information page covers the documents you need when you submit an application. It is worth reading both before you start. Official source: https://forevermanchester.com/funding/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Added this week (4)
We Love MCR Charity: Stronger Communities Fund
We Love MCR Charity
We Love MCR Charity gives grants of up to £4,000 to groups making a real difference in Manchester neighbourhoods. It is the charity's longest-running fund. Your project must fit at least one theme: the early years, tackling loneliness and social exclusion, open spaces, or positive activities for young people. The people you help must live in the City of Manchester, not elsewhere in Greater Manchester. Applications are assessed in rounds. The next deadline is 3 November 2026, with decisions by 1 December. The charity is happy to talk through whether your idea fits before you apply. Official source: https://www.welovemcrcharity.org/stronger-communities-fund. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.
Key Fund: GM Local Access
Key Fund
GM Local Access offers up to £30,000 of investment to social enterprises in Stockport, Oldham, Bolton and Wigan that are early in their trading and want to grow. It is for organisations with a clear social purpose whose income mostly comes from selling goods or services, or who plan to grow that. If you are a company limited by shares, including a CIC limited by shares, you need a profit redistribution clause, a director pay clause and an asset lock. It is investment, so expect to repay it. Organisations elsewhere in Greater Manchester, including the City of Manchester, are not covered. Official source: https://thekeyfund.co.uk/funding/larch/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.
Macc E26: free support for social businesses in Manchester
Macc
Macc's E26 programme gives Manchester social businesses free expert advice and practical help to start, grow and become more sustainable. It can help with things like business planning, measuring impact and getting ready to apply for funding. Macc also runs the Manchester Social Economy Alliance, with free training, peer support and mentoring. It is not a grant, but good support can make your funding applications much stronger. Official source: https://manchestercommunitycentral.org/support-groups/resources-library/support-social-enterprises. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.
Manchester Your Neighbourhood Fund
Manchester City Council
Your Neighbourhood Fund gives up to £5,000 for community-led projects in Manchester. Each ward has £30,000 to share, and small or new groups are welcome. Projects can improve the local environment, tackle climate change, run community events, help a group start or grow, or share skills and knowledge. Your idea should match the priorities in your ward plan. You can apply at any time. Speak to your Neighbourhood Officer first; they can tell you what your ward is looking for. Official source: https://manchestercommunitycentral.org/support-groups/funding-opportunities/your-neighbourhood-fund. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.
Guide
Checked 21 October 2026 against the official sources linked.
Start with your borough
Councils such as Manchester and Salford run neighbourhood and ward-based community grants. Local infrastructure bodies, such as Macc in Manchester and Action Together in Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside, help groups find funding and some run grant programmes of their own.
Source: Macc (Manchester), Action Together (Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside)
Forever Manchester
Forever Manchester funds not-for-profit community groups in all ten boroughs. Its guidance says groups must be locally led, with at least three unrelated people on the committee and two unrelated bank signatories, and it accepts CICs that are limited by guarantee and asset-locked.
Source: Forever Manchester: funding FAQs
Sport and activity
Several grants here are for sport and physical activity, such as small grants for clubs, coaches and activities for children and young people. Our sports clubs page lists grants open to clubs across the UK.
National Lottery in England
National Lottery Awards for All England offers £300 to £20,000 for projects that bring people together and improve communities. It is open to groups across Greater Manchester.
What local funders usually ask for
Most local funders ask for a governing document, a bank account in the group name, recent accounts or a simple statement of income and spending, and a safeguarding policy if you work with children or adults at risk. Get these ready before a fund opens, because many local rounds are short and some close early when the budget is spent.
Source: Forever Manchester: funding FAQs
Who funds this
| Funder | Open grants here |
|---|---|
| Manchester City Council | 7 |
| Action Together | 5 |
| Wigan Council | 4 |
| Salford City Council | 2 |
| Forever Manchester / DF Capital Foundation | 1 |
| GM Nature Network Grants | 1 |
| Key Fund | 1 |
| Macc | 1 |
11 different funders in total. Where a maximum award is stated, the middle value is £3,250.
By grant size
| Largest award | Open grants |
|---|---|
| Up to £2,000 | 5 |
| £2,001 to £10,000 | 4 |
| £10,001 to £100,000 | 3 |
| Over £100,000 | 0 |
| Amount varies or not stated | 13 |
All open grants (25)
No deadline listed
Check the funder's current application window before you apply.
Little Hulton and Walkden Community Grant
Salford City Council
This Salford City Council grant supports community activity in Little Hulton and Walkden. The council will consider any application that improves wellbeing and health outcomes for local people. Decisions are made by a local budget group. You will need to show evidence of at least 25% match funding, or match funding in kind, for the activity you want funded. Exceptional circumstances may be considered if you present a business case. The council particularly wants to encourage projects that build community resilience, meet local wellbeing and health needs, or support its Locality Plan, A Vision For A Healthier Salford. Examples include promoting healthy lifestyles, improving the local environment, reducing crime, supporting carers and investing in children and young people. Groups can apply twice in one calendar year. Applications from individuals are not considered. You must attach invoices and full information. Any money is paid into a bank account that needs at least two signatures from people who are not related and do not live at the same address. Applications will not be considered if receipts or monitoring forms are outstanding. Some costs are unlikely to be funded. Long-term staff salaries and operational costs are not normally supported, although salaries for one-off activities can be considered. Transport, room hire and utility costs are only considered in exceptional circumstances. Day trips that do not directly benefit the community will not be considered, and nothing is awarded for political or religious purposes. A one-off event can receive a maximum of £500. Retrospective applications will not be considered unless they relate to an emergency, disaster or unforeseen circumstances. Official source: https://www.salford.gov.uk/people-communities-and-local-information/my-local-community/applying-for-funds-for-your-group/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Rochdale Recovery Micro Fund £1k
Action Together
The Rochdale Recovery Micro Fund gives small grants of up to £1,000 to help strengthen Rochdale Borough's recovery community. It is run through Rochdale Borough Council and managed by Action Together. The money can help you try out a new project or keep an existing one going. Projects must directly benefit local people and communities. The fund suits small, unconstituted groups and individuals who are rooted in the borough and linked to the Rochdale Recovery Communities Partnership. The fund's priorities are: - creating a visible and positive recovery community - recognising the importance of early intervention for substance and alcohol use - ending stigma for people who use substances and alcohol - raising awareness of these issues in a non-stigmatising way - widening the support available for people in recovery, and creating shared opportunities for learning and engagement in the wider community There is no fixed closing date. This is a rolling pot, and it will close once the funds have been used up. If you are interested, it is sensible to apply sooner rather than later. The grant is paid to your Rochdale Recovery Communities partner, not to you directly. That partner will also help you complete the application form and must sign it. If you are not yet linked to a partner, the page gives a contact who can connect you. Action Together also offers members development support, training and other infrastructure alongside the grant funding. Official source: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/rochdale-recovery-micro-fund-ps1k. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Tenant Together Fund
Wigan Council
The Tenant Together Fund gives local groups, individuals and organisations up to £2,000 for community projects that benefit neighbourhoods in the Wigan borough. It is run by Wigan Council. You can apply up to three times in each financial year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March. Your project needs to meet at least one of four themes. These are building happy, resilient and safe communities; improving the places and spaces that matter most to your community; raising aspirations and creating opportunities through volunteering, training and digital skills; and increasing tenant voice in shaping services and neighbourhoods. The fund can pay for room hire, training courses linked to the themes, staff costs for sessional training, community events and fun days, equipment, resources and promotional material, refreshments of up to £5 per person, and reasonable transport costs. It will not pay for trips and excursions, staff costs, alcohol, gifts, projects that have already taken place, religious or political activities, planning and consultant fees, or group running costs. Match funding is welcome but not required. A tenant-led funding panel decides each application. It can fund in full, fund in part or decline. Before any money is paid, you must show your constitution and a bank account in the group name. Afterwards you complete a simple evaluation and keep all your receipts, as 10% of projects are randomly audited. One practical point: applications can be declined if the funding for that financial year has been spent. The council advises speaking to a Tenant Voice officer before you apply. Official source: https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Housing/Council-homes/Get-involved/Support-and-Funding/Better-connected-communities-fund.aspx. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Communities Investment Fund
Wigan Council
Wigan Council offers funding to help community groups run local projects. The money supports community initiatives across Wigan Borough. You must be a community organisation or group based in Wigan to apply. The funding amount is not specified, so it likely varies by project. There is no set deadline, which means you can apply at any time. This is a rolling programme where applications are reviewed regularly. You can use the money for community projects that benefit local people.
Live Well Community Fund - Coaching Grants
Action Together
This fund pays for one-to-one coaching for local leaders in voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in the Rochdale borough. It is run by Action Together, with funding from the Live Well Fund. The aim is to give community leaders time, headspace and support to reflect on their wellbeing, their leadership and the difference they make. Around 20 leaders will receive a grant. The page says many leaders never get the chance to step back, because they are busy keeping an organisation or service running. The grant amount depends on the coaching quote you receive. The estimated cost is £700 to £850, and the most you can receive is £1,000. The fund is rolling. There is no fixed closing date. It will close once the money has been used up, so it is worth applying sooner rather than later. When making decisions, Action Together looks at clarity of goals, personal benefit, benefit to your organisation or community, commitment and readiness, and equity and access. One practical point: you need to be a member of Action Together to apply. Your work should also focus on social justice or social change, and your organisation needs a turnover below £1m. Official source: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/live-well-community-fund-coaching-grants. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
GM Nature Network Grants
GM Nature Network Grants
This grant supports charities and third sector groups in Greater Manchester. It funds work that creates wildlife-rich land as part of the GM Nature Network. The goal is to help deliver the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Small grants are available, but the exact amounts are not confirmed.
More grants
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Create free accountCultural Partnership Grant Programme 2026-2029
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council offers multi-year funding for cultural organisations and partnerships in Manchester. The grant supports cultural activities, arts programmes and creative projects that enhance the city's cultural offer. This is a sustained funding programme running from 2026 to 2029.
Rochdale Communities Fund - Seed Fund
Action Together
The Seed Fund gives grants of up to £500 to small, unconstituted groups in Rochdale Borough. It also suits groups preparing to become social enterprises, such as Community Interest Companies. The money helps you develop an idea or project into a sustainable, long-term organisation that benefits the borough. It is funded by Rochdale Borough Council's Adult Social Care team and run by Action Together as part of the Rochdale Communities Fund. Your project must fit one or more of two priorities. The first is challenging poverty and driving equality, for example through practical support, advice or peer support, reducing inequalities and strengthening community voice. The second is promoting health and wellbeing, for example supporting social, mental and physical wellbeing, working with marginalised groups whose needs are not met by existing services, and building strong relationships in and across communities. There is no fixed closing date. This is a quarterly rolling programme. The fund pauses when the money available for that quarter has been allocated, and it reopens the following quarter. You do not fill in the form on your own. You meet a Community Development Worker to talk through your idea and answer some basic questions. They then complete the application for you and submit it. Action Together makes the decision. It looks for groups that are compliant, competent and comprehensive, which means you are setting up or ready to set up a formal group, you have a good relationship with your worker, and you have a clear need and plan for the money. One practical point: you must be a member of Action Together CIO and have at least three people actively involved. Groups that have already had a Seed Fund grant cannot apply again. Official source: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/rochdale-communities-fund-seed-fund. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
See all 2 rounds of Rochdale Communities FundQuestions
What community grants are open in Manchester?
Today GrantMatch lists 25 live grants for community groups, charities and CICs in Greater Manchester, from 11 funders. 9 offer up to £10,000 and 20 have no fixed deadline.
Which areas count as Greater Manchester?
The ten boroughs of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. Many grants on this page cover only one of them, or a single ward or neighbourhood.
Can a CIC apply to Forever Manchester?
Forever Manchester accepts CICs that are limited by guarantee and asset-locked, as well as charities, CIOs and constituted groups. Its funding FAQs set out the full rules.
Are there grants for sports clubs in Manchester?
Yes. Several grants on this page are for sport and physical activity, and our sports clubs page lists grants open to clubs across the UK, such as Football Foundation programmes.
How do you check these grants?
We collect grants from official funder pages, GOV.UK, councils and community foundations, and remove them when they close. Each grant page links to its source and shows when we last checked it. Always confirm the details with the funder before you apply.
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Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for community groups in Greater Manchester opens. Free to start, no card needed.
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Sources and how we check
We collect grants from official funder pages and remove them when they close. Each grant page links to its source and shows when we last checked it. Always confirm the details with the funder before you apply. Guide sources: