Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund donates more than £38k to local causes

Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund has agreed funding for 18 charities and not-for-profit groups across Greater Manchester and Cheshire at its latest meeting.

The Fund, which was set up in 1997 and has since made more than £4 million of pledges, will donate more than £38,000 in total to organisations as varied as BMX club, a youth theatre and a musical support group for older adults.

Among those to benefit was Bruntwood Park BMX Club, based in Cheadle, Stockport, who were granted £3,000 towards training equipment and safety gear that will enable more local youngsters to try out the sport, in the year that Kieran Reilly picked up a silver medal in the event for Team GB at the Paris Olympics.

Sarah Woodward, Secretary of Bruntwood Park BMX Club said:

“We are over the moon with the grant awarded to our BMX Club. We are now able to ensure we have all the necessary equipment needed to provide our riders with a safe and suitable BMX experience. To now be in a position to recruit more riders is fantastic for the club, the local community and the sport.”

The Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund is managed by a committee of trustees from the local area alongside representatives from the airport. It makes pledges worth up to £100,000 every year to groups based within 10 miles of the airport, including parts of Manchester, Tameside, Trafford, Stockport and Cheshire. Groups are able to bid for up to £3,000 of funding for initiatives with a clear and lasting community benefit.

Robert Pattison, Chair of the Community Trust Fund, said:

“We take our role in supporting our neighbouring communities very seriously and we’re keen that they are able to share in the airport’s success, so the Community Trust Fund is a really important part of delivering that and we’re very proud to once again be supporting such a wide range of fantastic local causes.

“If you’re part of a group or community project or know someone who is, and could potentially benefit from this funding, we’d love to hear from you ahead of our next meeting in January.” 

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

Details on how to apply for a Community Trust Fund grant, and the full criteria, can be found here. The deadline for new applications ahead of January’s quarterly meeting is Friday 13^th December.

Pictured: Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund Trustee Cllr John Taylor (back, fourth from left) and Tom Morrison MP (back, fifth from left) present Bruntwood Park BMX Club with a cheque.