Please choose ONE priority from the below to focus your activity on:

1. Meeting Basic Needs with Dignity:

   Programmes that support residents to access information, guidance and essentials (such as food, fuel and furniture) in ways that are accessible, respectful and reduce stigma 

   Activity supports individuals to access the basic needs to Live Well.

   For example, Community Food Projects, Social Supermarkets, White good provisions, resourcing spaces

2. Keeping People Well and Connected:

   Community-based activities to keep people of all ages connected to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and help people stay well. 

   Programmes that engage residents with a particular focus on young people and those experiencing frailty, connecting people and investing in community assets for connection spaces.  

   For example, Social action projects, youth-voice projects, Neighbourhood wellbeing cafes, Cultural connection projects.

3. Neighbourhood Approach to Tackling Health Inequalities

   Programmes designed to tackle health inequalities by providing neighbourhood support, early on, that helps individuals and communities manage health challenges before they get worse.  

   For example, green social prescribing, community advice hubs, local signposting and advocacy services.

4. Strengthening Community Power and Capacity 

   An opportunity for VCFSE’s to use community insights to enhance existing delivery or trial a new idea that builds skills, partnerships and leadership within communities  

   Residents shape their own solutions and projects in their local area. 

   For example, youth-led pilot programme, test and learn models, new baby and toddler groups.

5. Joined- Up Support that Enables People to Prepare for, Access, and Work, Well 

   Encouraging VCFSE’s to collaborate innovatively across sectors with education, housing, public health and businesses, holistically addressing financial, health and wellbeing needs to support people to closer to employment and volunteering. 

• Any constituted VCFSE (Voluntary, Community & Faith based groups, Social Enterprise) organisation is eligible, including small community groups, charities, social enterprises, and emerging grassroots initiatives. 

• Have relevant due diligence requirements, such as safeguarding policy and public liability insurance. If you don’t have all of the due diligence requirements below, Sector 3 can support – please contact us at funding@sector3sk.org to discuss.  

• Be a non-for-profit organisation based in Stockport, or deliver projects that directly benefit the Stockport Community.  

• Have actively delivered services/projects in Stockport at any time within the last two years, or be a new organisation based in Stockport if applying for a small pot.  

• Have a bank account in the name of the organisation and appropriate financial controls.  

• Be inclusive and equitable in your approach. 

• Apply for one of the fund priorities.  

• Include a clear, feasible project plan and budget in their application.  

• Be an incorporated not-for-profit VCFSE organisation operating in Stockport (charity, CIC, social enterprise, faith group, or community association). 

• Hold relevant safeguarding, equality, and data protection policies (see due diligence requirements). 

• Details for project lead  

• Details for finance lead 

• Safeguarding policy – vulnerable adults and/or children (depending on project relevance) 

• Copy of governing document  

• Details of DBS Certificates, if projects are working directly with children or vulnerable adults 

• Public Liability Insurance 

• Risk Assessment of the project, with mitigations for risk 

• Health & Safety Policy  

• Equality Policy  

• Data Protection Policy 

• Details of charitable dissolution  

• Employment insurance (if project is funding a paid role) 

• Agree to attend learning, insight & reporting sessions quarterly 

What this funding will cover:  

• Project costs.  

• Core costs related to the project, such as salary, rent, insurance and utility bills.   

• Volunteer costs and expenses.  

• Monitoring and evaluation costs.  

• Comms and marketing costs.  

What this funding won’t cover: 

• Costs unrelated to the project.  

• Retrospective costs. 

• Non-charitable purposes, such as gambling.  

• Capital Costs, such as building construction and maintenance. 

• Political campaigns and parties.  

• Monday 8 June 2026 - Fund Launch – (4-week application window)

• Wednesday 17 June, 11:00–12:00 - Meet the Funder

July 2026

• Wednesday 1 July - Application Review Session with Sector 3  

• Sunday 5 July - Application deadline – midnight

• w/c Monday 6 July 2026 -  Shortlisting 

• Thursday 30 July - Panel decision 

• Funding awarded – earliest 14th August  

Funding Activity period 1st Sept 26-30th Aug 27.​

‍Applicants can access fully-funded support to help them with their application via:

‍ ‍

Meet the Funder:
Wednesday 17 June, 11am-12pm at What If café

‍ ‍

Application Review Session:
Wednesday 1 July

‍ ‍

Bidwriting Training:
Tuesday 16 June, 10am – 1pm, Sector 3 offices