Wirral community groups can now apply for grants of up to £20k

Grants of up to £20,000 are now available for community-based food and welfare support providers helping local people in need this summer.

The Small Grants programme is specifically aimed at frontline Wirral groups to help residents struggling with food costs, energy and water bills, and other essentials. 

Projects which will help people in need who might not be able to access other kinds of government support are particularly encouraged to apply for the grants.

Wirral Council’s Leader, Cllr Paul Stuart, said:

“Far too many local people are still being massively impacted by inflation, putting enormous pressure on them day to day, and even though we are through the winter many are still struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. 

“By using the local knowledge of these frontline groups and supporting their work in their communities we are aiming this funding at those people who need it most, including those who would struggle to get hep through other means, to help people through these incredibly difficult times.”

The Small Grants Programme will total £1,300,000 to the end of March 2024 and is part of Wirral’s Household Support Fund allocation of £6,098,690 from the Department for Work and Pensions, which is available to support those most in need with the cost of food, energy (heating, cooking, lighting), water bills and other essentials.

There will be two rounds of bidding for these grants, covering the summer and winter periods. The deadline for applications for the first (summer) round is June 30, 2023.

Local groups who were involved with the previous schemes will be given notice of the Fund in order that they can be prepared to bid. Groups/organisations will have until 20 October 2023 to spend the funding under the summer scheme and will be subject to the established audit requirements (submission of receipts, etc.), as with the monitoring of previous small grants programmes.

More information and the online application form are available on the Wirral Council website from today (16 June).