We’re pleased to confirm that the Cheshire West Welcoming Spaces Grant Fund is returning for 2025–26 and will open for applications on Monday 1st December 2025. The fund is designed to help community organisations, parish and town councils, and community buildings provide warm, welcoming spaces for residents who are feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has again allocated funding to support local venues to open their doors as Welcoming Spaces – safe, friendly places where people can keep warm, meet others, and find out about practical help and support. Cheshire Community Action (CCA) will administer the grants on the Council’s behalf.

What the fund offers

  • Grants of up to £1,200 are available per application.
  • In most cases we expect one grant per organisation, but we may consider more than one application where an organisation is providing multiple Welcoming Spaces.
  • Funding is intended to help with the additional running costs of providing a Welcoming Space over the winter and beyond, and can also support activities that run past March 2026 to strengthen your organisation’s financial sustainability.

The fund aims to help local people to:

  • Save money on their energy bills
  • Access advice, information and peer support around cost-of-living and other issues
  • Improve community spirit and wellbeing through social contact and a sense of belonging
  • Connect with specialist support providers who can offer more in-depth help

Who can apply

Eligible organisations include:

  • Voluntary and community organisations
  • Constituted groups or clubs
  • Registered charities
  • Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
  • Not-for-profit companies
  • Community interest companies (CICs)
  • Parish and Town Councils
  • Schools

(Additional eligibility conditions are set out in the application form and guidance.)

We cannot fund individuals or retrospective costs for activity that has already taken place.

What the grant can pay for

The fund is flexible and can support both new Welcoming Spaces and additional provision within existing activities such as lunch clubs, coffee mornings, children’s groups or social clubs.

  • Food and refreshments (e.g. groceries, tea and coffee)
  • Additional utilities (heating, lighting, water)
  • Venue hire or room costs
  • Furniture and equipment (tables, chairs, cooking or water-heating equipment, blankets, etc.)
  • Additional staff time to run the Welcoming Space
  • Volunteer expenses (e.g. travel, subsistence)
  • Publicity and marketing (leaflets, posters, etc.)

How to apply

  1. Read the guidance
    Download and read the Welcoming Spaces Grant Fund 2025–26 Guidance to check your eligibility and understand how the fund can be used.
  2. Complete the application form
    Download and complete the 2025–26 Application Form, providing details of your organisation, your proposed Welcoming Space, expected costs and how the grant will help local residents.
  3. Submit by email
    Email your completed application form to enquiries@cheshireaction.org.uk.

CCA will carry out initial due diligence checks and may contact you for further information or clarification. Eligible applications will then be assessed by a grants panel using a scoring system based on the published criteria. You will be informed of the outcome in mid to late January 2026.

Successful applicants will be issued with a grant agreement, including simple monitoring requirements (for example, a short online questionnaire on users of your Welcoming Space up to the end of March 2026).

Key dates for 2025–26

  • Launch of grant scheme: Monday 1st December 2025
  • Application deadline: 12.00pm, Friday 19th December 2025

Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered for funding.

If you need any help with your application, please contact Cheshire Community Action on 01244 400222 or email enquiries@cheshireaction.org.uk

Download Grant Guidance
Download Application Form