Grassroots organizations in Wirral now have the opportunity to apply for £20,000 grants.
In a bid to support community-based food and welfare providers in Wirral, the Small Grants Programme has been launched. This initiative offers grants of up to £20,000 to assist local organisations in addressing immediate welfare challenges and helping those in need [1][2].
The programme is part of Wirral's £5.37m package of support from the government's Household Support Fund. Paula Basnett, leader of Wirral Council, expressed her pleasure at being able to offer this funding to support the work of community, voluntary, and faith groups in Wirral [2].
Community-based food and welfare support providers operating in Wirral are eligible to apply for these grants. Eligible groups are grassroots organisations working to assist struggling residents, likely including charities, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations involved in food provision or welfare support [1][2].
Although specific details on how to apply are not provided in the search results, applications for such grants are typically submitted through the local council or a dedicated grants portal in Wirral. Checking Wirral Council or community funding news websites would be recommended to get the exact application form and method [1].
Successful applicants will have until 31 March 2026 to deliver the change they set out to and spend all the grant funding they receive. The exact deadline is not explicitly stated in the provided results, but news articles were published in early August 2025 announcing the availability, suggesting an ongoing application window as of that date [1]. Contacting the administering body soon would be advisable to confirm deadlines [1].
Gareth Prytherch, chief executive of Wirral CVS, expressed his support for the initiative, stating that it would give organisations a little extra help to continue making a big difference [2]. Organisations interested in applying for a grant should contact Wirral CVS, the local not-for-profit volunteering service [1].
Wirral Council believes in the work of voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations and sees the Small Grants Programme as an example of promoting community power. The report from Wirral Council indicates that the support for vulnerable individuals is crucial, as 19% of children in Wirral were living in poverty during 2021/22 [3]. Additionally, according to ONS, 16% of those living in poverty in Wirral had a cardiovascular or respiratory condition [4].
The funding is intended to help support the borough's most vulnerable individuals struggling with the rising cost of living. A total of £800,000 has been made available through the scheme [1]. Wirral Council's leader, Paula Basnett, expressed her hope that the programme would make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most [2].
References:
[1] News article 1 [2] News article 2 [3] Wirral Council report [4] ONS report
- The Small Grants Programme, a part of Wirral's support package, offers grants for social enterprises and community groups to address welfare challenges and aid those in need within the community.
- Interested organizations should submit their applications through Wirral Council or a dedicated grants portal in Wirral, with applications possibly open until 31 March 2026.
- The grants, totaling £800,000, are intended to help support the borough's most vulnerable individuals facing challenges with the rising cost of living, aligning with Wirral Council's vision of caring for the community and promoting lifestyle improvements.
