Grant programmes

Manchester's Rising Stars Fund

The fund aims to give young Mancunians a helping hand to take opportunities that may otherwise be out of their reach.

Limited finances can be a barrier to many young people, and we recognise that a little financial support at the right time can make a big difference when starting out on a career, self-employment or learning path. 

Stronger Communities Fund

Our Stronger Communities Fund empowers local people to improve their own communities and spaces, whenever they are ready. We listen, and act on their inspiring ideas.

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It is our longest standing fund, and with it we've supported hundreds of local groups & charities to deliver great work in Manchester's unbeatable communities! With a re-launch and new injection of funds, 2021 is going to be a big year for this programme.

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Ongoing projects

Manchester Young
Lives Programme

Manchester Young Lives have been at the forefront of youth services in Manchester for many years, especially with young people in danger of social exclusion.

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We've supported Manchester Young Lives for a few years now, via the Sir Howard Bernstein Endowment Fund, in order to expand the offer MYL gives to 16-19 year olds on their Employability Programme. This bespoke programme provides invaluable opportunities to these young people, read some of their success stories by clicking on the button below.

Ghyll Head Experience

Every year we fund Manchester families with complex needs to leave the city, and travel to Lake Windermere to experience a therapeutic family course. The break takes place at Ghyll Head Outdoor Education Centre, where they engage in a range of outdoor activities, building confidence, self-esteem and new skills.

This is an incredibly positive experience for everyone involved – family bonds are strengthened, lasting friendships are formed and the young people and their parents leave with an experience they won’t forget.

Past projects

Covid-19 Community Response Fund

We gave emergency funding to the amazing Manchester groups and charities responding to urgent community needs in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.

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We awarded just under £1.000.000 to over 300 groups in the most uncertain period of the pandemic. The crisis exacerbated some of the most heart-breaking aspects of life in Britain today - hunger, domestic abuse and social isolation - so we diverted the majority of our funding to organisations tackling this. 

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We surveyed the 300+ groups we funded and created an impact report on the findings. Click the link below to read the report and hear the difference our fund made to Manchester.

Summer School

Manchester is currently going through a boom period, with a city-centre that's practically unrecognisable to 30 years ago, and businesses flourishing at a rate not seen since the Industrial Revolution. However that change isn't always reflected locally, with 40% of Manchester's children classed as living in relative poverty.

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In 2018 and 2019, we operated a Summer School programme connecting local school-leavers with some of Manchester's top businesses in an effort to bridge the gap between our city's future and its present. The Covid-19 pandemic brought an indefinite halt to the Summer School programme in 2020.