Small grants under £5,000 for groups and organisations to fund activity that supports the mental wellbeing of disabled people.

They are looking for:

• Innovative ideas which can prove their worth and cause wider system change.

• Work led and implemented by disabled people. If not led by disabled people the project must be in co-production with them using the Social Model of Disability.

• Local community connected groups and organisations with a turnover under £100,000.

• Intersectional and culturally sensitive activity.

• Must be based within Greater Manchester and not just a regional office of large national organisations.

Deadline to apply is Monday 7th July

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. 

Grants of between £500 and £2,000 are available for freelance and independent artists across Greater Manchester. The fund is to support a range of projects from musicians who would benefit from a new instrument or a small group who needs funds to replace costumes or a freelance artist who wishes to upskill via a training course. Round 4 is open from 28th March until 28th April. Round 5 opens 29th September until midday Friday 31st October.

Find out more about the fund.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have announced that the Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme has been re-funded for a 5th year. This announcement includes continued funding to the North West RSMP to deliver the North West Welcome Hub as well as continue our work funding vital projects and programmes across the region supporting BN(O) visa holders.

The Government is continuing to fund the following key elements of the Welcome Programme:

• Demand-led funding for local authorities in England to provide English language and destitution support. Funding for English language support will be available for the first three years that a BN(O) is in the UK – this is a change in eligibility for the English language funding and the attached updated guidance has also been produced by Government;

• Funding for the 12 Welcome Hubs across the UK;

• Funding for the Hate Crime Reporting Service for BN(O)s and ESEA communities. There will be a reduction in the operating hours for the service with details to be confirmed; and,

• Funding for the mental health and wellbeing project being delivered by Barnardo’s until September 2025.

Information is also available on the RSMP website or on the Gov.uk BN(O) webpage

Aviva, in partnership with WWF and the RSPB, is giving £1 million to support community groups across the UK to protect and restore nature in their local area.

Find out more here

Funding and support to charitable organisations that help young people in North West England. It is made up of two funding streams.  One-off unrestricted grants for small community organisations, the typical one-off grants range from £2,000-£2,500. The Foundation aims to support organisations with a turnover of less than £500,000. Funding stream two is based on long-term funding partnerships for small North West charities that want to strengthen and grow.  Typical grants of £10,000-£30,000 pa for 3 years, to scale or strengthen operational health.

Find out more here