Manchester Airport's Community Trust Fund passes £4 million of donations to local good causes

Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund has surpassed £4 million of donations to community projects and local charities, with 19 organisations in Greater Manchester and Cheshire benefitting from the latest round of grants.

The Community Trust Fund was set up in 1997 to give the airport a way of giving back to the community. It is managed by a committee of trustees from the area alongside representatives from the airport.

Manchester Airport pays £100,000 per year into the fund, with additional funding provided by other partners. Groups from central Manchester, Tameside, Trafford, Stockport, Cheshire East and Cheshire West are able to bid for up to £3,000 for initiatives with a clear and lasting community benefit. Applications are reviewed by the trustees.

Among those awarded a share of over £24,000 at the latest meeting were Top & Tail Productions, an independent film producer offering free training in filmmaking and acting to Wythenshawe residents. This year it is producing Silver Screen Dreams – a brand new comedy-drama feature film about hope and community – to which the Community Trust Fund will be contributing £1,500. Representatives from the Community Trust Fund, and Mike Kane MP, visited the production team earlier this week.

Rebecca Peacock, a producer on the Silver Screen Dreams project, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this grant. The funds will help purchase much needed film-making equipment for our participants to use.

“We are hugely excited to make our first feature film together and look forward to engaging the people of Wythenshawe with community filmmaking."

Also set to benefit is 1st Dane Bank Scout Group, in Tameside. They will receive £1,290 towards camping equipment, which will allow them to take their groups on excursions.

Ged Rowles, Group Scout Leader, said: “We appreciate being awarded this grant. It will help us replace some of our old camping equipment and continue to be able to offer camping to our young people.

“These camps are not just a weekend away, they give our young people incredible experiences.”

The Time Out Group, in Handforth, has been awarded £1,598 towards furnishing its activity centre. The charity supports adults with autism and learning disabilities.

Time Out Group’s Deputy Charity Manager, Anne-Louise Black, said: “We are thrilled to receive this funding, which will pay for improvements to the facilities on offer in our activity centre. Having extra capacity will allow us to provide more people with opportunities to help them improve their confidence, independence, health and wellbeing and to provide support and respite for their family, parents and carers.”

Henshaws, a Manchester-based charity supporting people living with sight loss, will receive more than £800 towards the purchase of two tablet computers.

Shaneka Rianne, Trust & Grants Assistant at Henshaws, said: “The iPads will have a transformative impact on the visually impaired children and young people we support, allowing them to learn, play and be more independent. They will also allow for the children, young people and their families to be able to take part in the evaluation and feedback activities with staff at events.”

The full list of organisations to be awarded a grant at January’s meeting, and what they will be using the money for, can be found below.

Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “Manchester Airport isn’t just the UK’s global gateway in the North – we’re a part of the community here in South Manchester and Cheshire and it’s really important that we’re able to give something back.

“The Community Trust Fund means our neighbours are able to benefit from the airport and share in its successes. Its longevity symbolises the strength of our commitment to the area and we are thrilled to have now passed £4 million of donations.”

Mike Kane, Wythenshawe and Sale East MP, added: “Congratulations to all the successful applicants in this round of Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund.

“It was great to meet with Top & Tail Productions and see how the funds they have received will support free training in filmmaking and acting to Wythenshawe residents. Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund surpassing £4 million pound in donations to local community groups demonstrates their commitment to their neighbouring communities.

“I would encourage all community groups to apply to the next round of Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund and see how they might be able to make a change in their area.”

Details on how to apply for a Community Trust Fund grant, and the full criteria, can be found here. The deadline for applications to be considered at the next meeting is Saturday 3^rd June.

Grants awarded in April 2023