A £650,000 investment will create new opportunities for Cheshire and Warrington’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.

Funding has been secured through Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority’s Mayoral Investment Fund (MIF) to deliver a new VCFSE Grant Programme.

The programme forms 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).

CWIP works across the region to coordinate support for the VCFSE sector, providing a collective voice for organisations.

The partnership also works with regional partners to influence decision-making and ensure the VCFSE sector can help shape the opportunities presented by devolution.

The investment includes £265,000 in revenue funding and £385,000 in capital funding, providing an opportunity to put additional resources into organisations and communities across Cheshire and Warrington.

VCFSE organisations play a vital role in bringing people together, strengthening local communities, and responding to the issues that matter most to people in the places where they live.

This investment will help build on that work, supporting new ideas, local renewal, and innovative approaches across the region.

Warren Escadale, Chief Executive of VSNW, said:  

“Securing support from the Mayoral Investment Fund is a huge boost for our partnership and the VCFSE sector across Cheshire and Warrington.

“This investment backs the organisations at the heart of our communities, the ones driving prevention, strengthening local assets, and creating real change.

“Working with the Combined Authority, we’ll channel this funding where it can spark momentum, grow ideas, and deliver lasting impact for people and places across the region.”

Councillor Jean Flaherty, Portfolio Lead for Communities, Culture and Rural Affairs, Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, added:

“We want the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority to have a positive relationship with our VCFSE sector, based on partnership, collaboration and shared ambition.

“These grants are about more than funding projects. They are about empowering communities, supporting innovation, and ensuring local people help shape the future of Cheshire and Warrington.”

There are three key strands within the programme.

  • Prevention and progression grants
  • Community buildings and spaces grants
  • Feasibility pipeline development

The programme will have two funding rounds, with £301,000 allocated for the remainder of 2026-27 and another £349,000 available in 2027-28.

The first round opens on Monday 12 October 2026, closing on Sunday 22 November 2026. Awards for this round are due to be made in December 2026 ready for delivery to begin in early 2027.

CWVA will be overseeing the application process and evaluation on behalf of CWIP through Plinth, a community impact system used by many VCFSE sector organisations in the region.

A section has been created on the CWVA website, providing a more detailed overview of the VCFSE Grant Programme, a full Application Pack, set of FAQs, and links to the application form and online webinars.

Visit the CWVA website for more information

We aim to give Cheshire communities a stronger voice by engaging with and supporting them in influencing the places, spaces and services that are important to them.

We work throughout Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire East, Halton, and Warrington. Although we were originally founded to assist rural communities, in recent years, we have branched out to provide support in larger towns and their suburbs. 

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