Community groups across Cheshire West and Chester can apply to a new £897,000 fund, with the first application window closing on 4 November 2026.

    The Community Investment Fund is aimed at organisations delivering projects that help residents earlier, support independence or reduce financial hardship. It is open to eligible voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations, including partnerships with a lead applicant.

    The council says the 2026/27 funding pot combines £425,000 from its own budget with £472,000 from the government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund. The £897,000 is the overall allocation, not the amount available to each applicant.

    What can the first round support?

    The first application window runs from 7 October to 4 November. Its priorities include helping children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities take part in community life, improving school readiness and supporting parents.

    Other priorities include volunteering that builds relationships and reduces loneliness, practical life skills, earlier help before financial problems become a crisis, and better access to digital services.

    A second window, from 16 November to 14 December 2026, has a different set of priorities, including parenting support, educational achievement, peer support, wellbeing groups and help for families with essential costs. Organisations should match their proposal to the relevant round.

    How much can groups apply for?

    The council’s funding guidance sets out four strands: small innovation projects, prevention pilots, expansion of successful work, and learning and evaluation. The largest strand lists grants from £50,001 to £100,000 for projects lasting up to three years.

    Awards depend on the application meeting the criteria, assessment and the available budget. The guidance also excludes projects that have already happened, items already purchased and funding to cover losses or debt. Applicants should check the detailed rules and eligible costs before preparing a budget.

    What evidence is needed?

    The eligibility requirements include current annual accounts, a bank account in the organisation’s name and evidence of its governance arrangements.

    Applicants also need appropriate safeguarding, equality and inclusion policies, relevant Disclosure and Barring Service checks, and suitable insurance. The proposal must explain the benefits for Cheshire West and Chester residents and how the organisation will measure its results.

    Applications go through the council’s Plinth application form, which confirms the 4 November closing date. Required documents must be uploaded with the completed submission.

    Help with an application

    The council has announced an in-person support session at Ellesmere Port Library Committee Room, Civic Way, CH65 0BG, on Thursday 22 October, from 1pm to 3pm. Potential applicants can ask about booking or accessibility by emailing [email protected].

    This is a grant scheme for organisations. The council says its separate household support arrangements, including crisis payments, school holiday support, heating oil support and the HELP scheme, will continue separately.

    Featured photograph: Ellesmere Port Library, pictured in 2012. Photo: Rept0n1x / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Ellesmere Port Library (1) / CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized to 1200 pixels wide and compressed with TinyPNG.