The GM VCFSE Early Years Network aims to promote, connect and develop the early years family support offer across Greater Manchester and supports the overarching aims:

• Building VCFSE capacity to develop the family and peer support offer aimed at families and young children (0-5) in GM – with a particular focus on addressing inequalities and inequities that impact health, wellbeing and development

• Strengthening collaboration between the VCFSE organisations who support GM children to have the best start in life.

Convening a GM VCFSE Early Years Network will place a focus on the importance of the VCFSE contribution to the first 1001 days, Start Well, Family Hubs, School Readiness, Perinatal and Parent Infant Mental Health agendas. It will also connect and strengthen links with relevant strategic locality boards and wider GM activity e.g. Live Well

Members of the network will work to promote inclusion and tackle inequalities which impact on the development and wellbeing of babies and toddlers. Members will receive a contribution to their organisation in exchange for their time, expertise and contribution. 

The Nurture Microgrant fund aims to promote, connect and develop the early years family support offer across Greater Manchester and supports the overarching aims:

• Supporting VCFSE capacity to develop the family support and peer support offer aimed at families and young children (0-5) in GM – with a particular focus on addressing inequalities and inequities that impact health, wellbeing and development

• Strengthening collaboration between the VCFSE organisations, who support children to start well in GM, and the wider system.

The priority of the Nurture Microgrant fund is to support the wellbeing and development of children from conception 0-5 and / or benefits children 0-5 by supporting their families.

Applications are welcome for projects which provide direct support for families with a focus on one or more of the following:

• Children experiencing adversity

• Communication, speech and language

• Play and development

• Positive Parent Infant relationships

The Safe Start Baby Bank Delivery Grant aims to strengthen the capacity of Baby Banks and increase the sustainability of their delivery to ensure every baby born has their essential needs met and can start life well in GM.  The fund is designed to enable GM Baby Banks to effectively deliver the Moses Basket Bundles to families via a referral process. 

Families caring for disables or seriously ill young adults aged between 18-24, living at home are invited to apply directly.

Families must be on a low income from work, or benefits such as Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit etc and the young adult for who they are applying for needs to have a high level of support needs in three of the following areas, Personal care, supervision and vigilance, access to social activities, education/vocational training/communication, therapy and medical treatment, specialist resources and the physical environment.

Funding is allocated on a first come, first served basis until funding is fully allocated.

The aim of the programme is to support smaller organisations in the UK that provide activities and services that help children to have a happy, healthy and fun childhood. Grants of up to £2,200 are available.

Applications are assessed once a month with the deadline on the last day of each month.

The Trust works with a broad range of charities, primarily in the North West of England, with particular emphasis on:

- Young Persons’ Wellbeing

- Elderly Services

- Education and Training

- Health

- Carers’ Support

- Mental Health

- Child / Family Support

Awards grants of up to £5,000 to UK registered charities whose activities involve all or most family members, where possible, in initiatives that seek to tackle problems facing one or more of its members.

Deadline to apply is 1 March and 1 September annually

Grants of up to £1,000 are available to support Greater Manchester based peer-led voluntary groups that can engage local parents (remotely or face-to-face) in a welcoming, safe and non-judgemental environment where they can socialise with and learn from other parents or volunteers with lived experienced of perinatal stress.

There is no submission deadline but the grant will close once the funds have been exhausted.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available to projects in GM that focus on one of four priority areas – preventing homelessness, reducing social isolation, improving access to employment and emergency support for vulnerable families and children.

2024 deadlines:

4pm on

Friday 5 April
Friday 26 April
Friday 31 May
Friday 21 June
Friday 26 July