Grassroots organizations in Wirral now eligible for grant applications worth £20,000
Wirral Council Launches Small Grants Programme to Support Community Health and Welfare
Wirral Council has announced a new funding initiative, the Small Grants Programme, aimed at supporting local community, voluntary, and faith groups that work towards improving health and welfare in the region. The programme is part of Wirral's £5.37m package of support from the government's Household Support Fund [1].
The Small Grants Programme offers grants of up to £5,000, with most grants expected to be under £5,000 [4]. The scheme, managed by Wirral CVS, a local not-for-profit volunteering service, is designed to enable and promote community power, as stated by Gareth Prytherch, chief executive of Wirral CVS [2].
Eligibility and Application Process
The programme is open to local voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations in the Wirral area. Organisations should be involved in delivering services or projects that improve health and wellbeing, including food and welfare provision. Applicants must have appropriate governance structures and financial controls in place [4].
Applications are typically submitted via Wirral CVS, either through an online or paper form (specifics not detailed in the available data, but contacting Wirral CVS is recommended). Applicants may need to provide evidence of their organisation’s activities, financial accounts, and details of the project or service seeking funding [4].
Priority Consideration
Priority is often given to grassroots organisations providing direct community support, including food and welfare providers [4]. For the most accurate guidance on eligibility specifics, application forms, and deadlines, direct contact with Wirral CVS is recommended.
Deadline and Additional Funding
The exact deadline for the current or upcoming round was not specified in the search results. However, given the funding announcement date in early August 2025, the deadline is likely close around this period or shortly thereafter. To avoid missing deadlines, contacting Wirral CVS promptly is recommended for up-to-date application periods and deadlines [4].
Food and welfare providers in Wirral can also apply for additional funding through the Small Grants Programme to support small-scale projects or operational costs that contribute to community health and welfare in the Wirral area [4].
Impact on Local Poverty Rates
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 16% of the people living in poverty in Wirral had a cardiovascular or respiratory condition [3]. Separate findings from the ONS reveal that there were approximately 62,835 people living in poverty in private households in Wirral as of March 2021 [3]. The funding is intended to help local people struggling with the rising cost of living, and it couldn't have come at a better time, as 19% of children in Wirral were living in poverty during 2021/22 [5].
Successful applications will have until 31 March 2026 to deliver the change they set out to and spend all the grant funding [1]. More information can be accessed at the provided link [1].
In related news, experts are predicting whether the Bank of England will cut interest rates tomorrow [6].
[1] Wirral Council (2025). Household Support Fund Small Grants Programme. Retrieved from [link] [2] Wirral Council (2025). Press Release: Wirral Council announces £5.37m package of support from the government’s Household Support Fund. Retrieved from [link] [3] Office for National Statistics (2021). Poverty in the UK: 2021. Retrieved from [link] [4] Wirral CVS (n.d.). Small Grants Programme. Retrieved from [link] [5] Wirral Council (2022). Wirral Council publishes annual report on child poverty. Retrieved from [link] [6] BBC News (2025). Bank of England interest rate decision: What happens next? Retrieved from [link]
The Small Grants Programme, funded by Wirral Council, offers assistance to local social enterprises, community groups, faith organizations, and home-and-garden oriented initiatives, providing they meet the eligibility criteria and are involved in projects enhancing health and wellbeing, such as food and welfare provision. Successful applicants can apply additional funding for smaller projects contributing to community health and welfare in the Wirral area, and have until 2026 to deliver change and expend the grant money.
