A local cricket club, a girlguiding group and a Search and Rescue team are among the charities and not-for-profit groups set to receive funding from Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund
The Community Trust Fund, which was set up in 1997, makes pledges to groups based within 10 miles of the airport. This includes parts of Manchester, Tameside, Trafford, Stockport and Cheshire, where groups are able to bid for funding for initiatives with a clear and lasting community benefit.
The Community Trust Fund is managed by a committee of trustees from the area alongside representatives from the airport. It has made more than £4m worth of donations in the 27 years since it was founded.
Among more than a dozen causes to benefit from the latest round of funding is Focus and Fly, a Manchester-based charity that runs personal and social development programmes to support vulnerable adults. They received £2,000 towards equipment for their women’s photography group.
Tracey Watterson, a Project Worker at Focus and Fly, said: “With the state-of-the-art MacBook and professional camera we’ve acquired, our women’s photography group now has access to equipment they wouldn’t typically be able to afford.
“The workshops we conduct now produce quality work surpassing mere smartphone snapshots, revealing hidden talents hindered by the lack of access to professional gear. This progress is leading us towards a community photography exhibition, organised by our growingly confident and cohesive group.”
Also set to benefit is Urmston Girlguiding in Trafford, which will receive over £1,000 for kitchen supplies as it rebuilds its headquarters.
Liz Southern, Urmston Division Commissioner for Girlguiding Greater Manchester West, explained: “Our new building will have a large cross section of users from all ages within Girlguiding, plus some members of our local Scouting community. The facilities will also be available for hire to specific community groups too.
“All these users will benefit from having a fully equipped working kitchen with upgraded facilities, and we will have the capacity to extend our activities during meetings with our young members, such as cooking workshops. The support received from the Community Trust Fund will enable us to continue our positive work in the local community, providing girls and young women with opportunities and experiences that might not otherwise be available to them.”
Alderley and Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company has been awarded £1,500 for the installation of a new PA system. Katy Thomason-Stewart, from the Theatre’s Marketing and Sponsorship team, said: “Our grant has enabled us to buy our own PA system, meaning that we no longer have to hire expensive equipment. As a local theatre group our passion is performing in our community – and Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund has enabled us to do this even more in the future.”
Greenspace Volunteers Stockport, which looks after parks and green recreational spaces across the town, was given £1,400 to fund new picnic tables, along with wood planters and gardening supplies. The group’s founder Chris Lightfoot said: “This funding will allow us to take a positive step towards working with the local community, helping the residents to get more from their immediate wild space. It will provide a family friendly venue for children of all ages to enjoy.”
The full list of organisations to be awarded a grant at the Community Trust Fund’s latest meeting, and what they will be using the money for, can be found below. Details on how to apply for a Community Trust Fund grant, and the full criteria, can be found here.
Robert Pattison, Chair of the Community Trust Fund, said: “The Community Trust Fund has now been running for more than 25 years and is one of the many ways in which we ensure that local communities share in the airport’s success. It was fantastic to be able to support such a broad range of applications at our latest meeting.
“The deadline for applications ahead of the next meeting is Saturday 1st June, so if you have a community-led project that you’re seeking funding for, please visit our website to apply.”
