Your Neighbourhood Fund

Your Neighbourhood Fund helps residents come together, build stronger communities, and make local areas better. The fund is about local people, local ideas and local impact.

Each area (ward) in Manchester has a total of £30,000 to support  community-led projects. There is no minimum amount you can apply for. The maximum you can request for one project is £5,000.

You do not need to be a big or established community group. Small and new groups of residents can apply too.

We want to support community-led activities that brings communities together. Residents know their neighbourhoods best, so we want to fund ideas that matter to you.

This includes activities that:

• Draw on community knowledge
• Make the most of new opportunities
• Celebrate diversity
• Help solve challenges that matter to residents

Your project must fit into one of the following categories:

Improve the neighbourhood environment (cleaner and greener)
These are projects or activities that help improve the neighbourhood and make it more attractive. They can include:

• improving public spaces and community gardens
• buying gardening tools and equipment for community activities
• supporting activities of Friends of Groups
• setting up clean-up days, litter picks, alley-way greening
• planting flowers or bulbs
• adding street art or murals
• getting involved in campaigns like Great British Spring Clean or Love Your Park Week

Climate action
Activities which help residents create a sustainable, zero carbon city within their neighbourhood. Ideas can include:

• walking and cycling activities
• reducing food waste
• growing food
• recycling, upcycling or clothes swap shop
• clean air day activities
• increasing knowledge on living in a more zero-carbon way (including money saving ideas). Find out about the climate action plan for your area.
• Community events to bring people together

Events that help bring people together to build relationships, celebrate diversity, foster a sense of belonging and encourage others to ‘take part’. They may include:

• celebration of cultural heritage and festivals (like Christmas, Easter, Eid, Diwali, Halloween plus much more)
• street parties, volunteer events, community theatre, walking groups, sports activities
• fund road closures (if appropriate) so any activities can run safely
• support campaigns through neighbourhood events, such as International Women’s Day, Pride, Black History Month, St George’s Day, or Remembrance Day

Set up new or develop existing community groups
Funding can support new or help existing ones grow. Or seed funding to kickstart community ideas for change. This could cover:

• furniture for indoor or outdoor spaces, and fixtures and fittings in buildings
• storage units
• IT, TV and sound equipment
• gazebos or cycle storage
• hiring venues for events

Smaller groups without a bank account can work with a larger group to receive one-off funding

Your area priorities
Each area (ward) has its own needs and priorities which are set out in Ward Plans. Your idea should help meet these. You can:

• discuss your ideas with your local councillors
• email the Neighbourhood Team at yourneighbourhoodfund@manchester.gov.uk 

Share and learn
Activities which build on sharing skills, knowledge and local history to enable positive change. This will help improve the lives of residents and the places they live. Funding must also benefit community groups. This might include:

• helping to build networks or partnerships between groups in an area and across the city
• coaching or mentoring
• help with communication and engagement with other residents
• digital skills
• create volunteering opportunities