- Creating new opportunities for Cheshire and Warrington’s VCFSE sector
This £650,000 investment will create new opportunities for Cheshire and Warrington’s VCFSE sector, forming part of the Celebrating Place: Communities, Culture and Renewal theme of the MIF.
It will be led by Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Partnership (CWIP), a collective of the four infrastructure support charities across the area – Cheshire Community Action (CCA), Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA), CVS Cheshire East and Warrington Voluntary Action (WVA) – along with Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW) and Cheshire Community Foundation (CCF).
A set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and other useful resources are also included below.
Organisations with the following structures will be eligible for this programme.
Only organisations across Cheshire and Warrington – within the boroughs of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington – will be eligible.
Partnership applications are welcomed, but one organisation will need to act as the lead applicant for the project. All delivery organisations through the partnership will need to meet the above eligibility criteria.
The VCFSE Grant Programme has three key priorities.
A full list of outputs and outcomes, linked to the three strands, are included in the Application Pack.
Please note that the outputs and outcomes will be agreed with individual projects to achieve maximum impact, making sure they are proportionate to the funding.
The programme will be delivered through two funding rounds.
Round one
Round two
While all delivery through the programme must conclude by 31 March 2028, we’re keen to see projects finish earlier, particularly those funded in round one, to help us highlight the impact of MIF funding.
Funding has been allocated in the following way across the programme.
| 2026-27 (round one) | 2027-28 (round two) | |
| Revenue funding (prevention and progression grants; feasibility pipeline development) | £185,500
|
£79,500 |
| Capital funding (community buildings and spaces grants) | £115,500 | £269,500 |
| Total | £301,000 | £349,000 |
After each funding round closes, a panel will meet to score applications and decide where funding should be allocated.
The panel will include representatives from all six organisations that are members of CWIP, plus a representative from the Combined Authority.
All applicants will be scored against the following criteria.
| Category | Weighting/scoring |
| Track record and project readiness/deliverability | 20% |
| Evidence of community need and geographical targeting | 20% |
| Alignment with programme/CA priorities | 30% |
| Target outputs/outcomes and value for money provided | 20% |
| Financial sustainability | 10% |
CWIP will endeavour to make sure there is an even spread of projects across Cheshire and Warrington, although an even share won’t be allocated from the outset. Applications will be assessed in line with the programme criteria, and priority will be given to projects serving rural, deprived or underserved communities.
Alongside the detailed Application Pack, several online webinars will be held for the VCFSE Grant Programme, outlining its priorities and application process.
VCFSE sector organisations are also encouraged to reach out to their local infrastructure organisations for any support they might need.
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