GrantRadar

We Love MCR Charity (Lord Mayor of Manchester's Charity Appeal Trust)

We Love MCR Stronger Communities Fund

Small grants from Manchester's civic charity for community groups and grassroots charities whose projects benefit residents of the City of Manchester, under four themes: early years, loneliness and social exclusion, open spaces, and positive youth activities. It favours extra work that could not happen without the grant, rather than contributions to existing salaries. The page says up to £2,000; the guidance notes say up to £4,000. Applications are open all year with trustee assessment about every six weeks; the next deadline is 3 November 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £2,000
Closes in
16 days left
3 November
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Constituted community groups, charities, community interest companies and social enterprises supporting or working with communities within the City of Manchester (the Manchester City Council area; projects for Greater Manchester or beyond are not considered)
  • Minor exceptions are possible, e.g. where up to 10% of beneficiaries live outside the city, or for young people leaving care in Manchester
  • The fund is aimed mainly at community groups and grassroots charities; the guidance's restrictions refer to an annual gross income of £200,000 (apparently an upper limit - the sentence is garbled, so confirm with the charity) and the charity reviews finances and reserves as a whole
  • Organisations need previous experience relevant to the project, and cannot apply within 12 months of a previous Stronger Communities grant

What it funds

Projects that fit at least one of the fund's four themes:

  • Helping in the early years - supporting children 0-4 years old, and their parents, to have the best possible start in life in terms of learning, health and/or nutrition
  • Combating loneliness and social exclusion - supporting groups of people at risk of exclusion from community life, for example as a result of advanced age or disability
  • Protecting and improving our open spaces - work which ensures public spaces are maintained and improved for local people, or expanding access to open spaces for all
  • Offering positive youth activities - sustainable, structured programmes and activities to help communities of young people to live safely and successfully

The charity particularly likes incremental work that cannot be done without its support - e.g. materials and volunteer training for a new planting project - and would not support a 10% contribution to an employee's salary. As well as money it can help with publicity, volunteers and perhaps a visit from the Lord Mayor.

What it will not fund

  • Private or commercial organisations
  • Projects more than 50% funded by Manchester City Council
  • Fundraising events
  • Projects which benefit residents primarily living outside the City of Manchester
  • Projects benefitting only a small number of individuals
  • Projects which do not address one or more of the themes
  • Projects which promote religious beliefs
  • Brand new projects, or organisations without previous experience relevant to the project
  • Academic or medical research and equipment
  • Retrospective requests (activities that have already taken place or been paid for)
  • Applicants funded by the Stronger Communities Fund in the previous 12 months
  • Requests that will replace or enhance a statutory duty of Manchester City Council
  • Applications made by one organisation on behalf of another

How to apply

  1. Read the guidance notes and check your project fits a theme - you can email the charity to discuss it first
  2. Apply on the We Love MCR Charity online grants platform, uploading the supporting information the form asks for
  3. Submit by a deadline date (next: 3 November 2026, assessed by 1 December 2026)
  4. Charity officers review the application and recommend it to the trustees' committee, who decide; there is no appeal
  5. Applicants hear within a few days of the decision; if successful, send a few lines of thanks, photos, the signed grant award agreement and a bank statement

Unsuccessful applicants can reapply only with a different proposal. Successful groups agree an update and final report with the grants manager.

Have ready

  • Supporting information requested on the application form

After an award: a few lines of thanks, photos of your group or project, the signed grant award agreement and a copy of your bank statement.

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