Organisations in the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sectors were invited to apply for grants at the end of 2022.

Groups could apply for up to £2,000 for new organisations or projects that required ‘seed funding’ to launch and test their activities. Established organisations could apply for up to £10,000 to sustain, extend or expand existing projects.

More than half of the applicants to the fund met the criteria and were successful in securing funding. These include:

• Al’s Activity and Respite Centre in Prescot who have secured £7,300 to refurbish a gym and sensory room with more advanced equipment to further improve the physical health of the group’s members.
• Happy Hours in Kirkby have been awarded £4,800 to be able offer free activities for adults and pensioners to improve their mental health and wellbeing through fun adapted fitness.
• Swanside Community Centre in Huyton have received just under £10,000 to support the most hard-up families in the community with family group sessions three days a week as well as breakfast and afterschool clubs, ensuring children get a healthy breakfast and meal after school each day.
• Torrington Drive Community Association in Halewood have received £10,000 to expand their ‘Helping Halewood’ project to support local residents with the challenges arising from the cost of living crisis.

 You can view a full list of the successful projects here.

About the Stronger Communities Fund

Members approved plans to launch a Stronger Communities Fund at its Cabinet in November 2022, having allocated a one-off £250,000 investment earlier in the year. The Fund will support groups to develop and strengthen their activities.

Over the past five years, the Council has invested £1.2m into Knowsley’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector and this fund will particularly support groups helping families deal with the challenges brought by the current cost of living crisis.

The principles of the fund will also support the priorities in the Knowsley Council Plan, which has a clear vision of supporting ‘Knowsley’s People and Communities to thrive’ by providing effective support for those in need, inclusive growth and skills, and achieving Net Zero by 2040.

Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council said:

“We know that people are struggling due to the on-going Cost of Living Crisis and as a Council we need to be dynamic in the ways in which we can offer support. Through the Stronger Communities Fund we are able to empower those groups and organisations closest to the community to deliver impactful projects which can help and support those most in need.”