Spirit of Manchester Fund 2025

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80th Anniversary of the Pan-African Congress 1945 £1000 Mini-grants Event

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THIS PROGRAMME IS NOW CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the fifth Pan-African Congress, which took place in Manchester in October 1945, we have two £1000 mini-grants available to small African or Caribbean- led voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the city of Manchester.

This funding is available to support the ongoing work of your organisation, including those who might have been affected by the current financial climate. The funding does not need to be tied to a new project (though new initiatives are welcome); it can be used in whatever way will be most beneficial to your organisation.

There is a two-stage process:

1. An open call to small African and / or Caribbean led VCSE organisations in Manchester to express interest in the funding and the opportunity to be one of six shortlisted organisations
2. Shortlisted organisations will be invited to make a five-minute presentation at Macc’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 25 November.

After the six organisations have made their presentation, AGM attendees will vote on which two organisations receive £1000. The four runners-up will each get £250.

To be eligible, your organisation must:

• Be a Manchester-based VCSE organisation, operating wholly within and for the benefit of the city and with an average annual income no greater than £50,000
• Have at least 50% of your board, management committee or senior leadership represent the African and/or Caribbean community that you serve through their personal (lived) or professional (learned) experience
• Submit a completed expression of interest form by 12 noon (midday) on Thursday 23 October 2025

A panel of VCSE sector representatives will review all eligible expressions of interest and shortlist six organisations to come and make their presentation. We will inform you about whether your expression of interest has been successful by 6 November.

There will be no funding monitoring or reporting requirements for grant holders. Our only condition is that within six-weeks of Macc paying the funding, you provide us with a Spirit Story we can use to highlight the fund, your work and the work of the wider VCSE sector.

Download the Programme Guidance

The deadline for completed expressions of interest to be submitted was 12 noon (midday) on Thursday 23 October 2025.