Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund pledges nearly £29,000 to local causes

More than a dozen charities and not-for-profit groups within 10 miles of Manchester Airport have received a boost after being granted funding by the hub’s Community Trust Fund.

The Community Trust Fund, which was set up in 1997, 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 across an area 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.

Donations agreed at the latest meeting totalled almost £29,000, spread between 14 groups.

Crystal Chords (pictured), a women’s barbershop chorus based in Stockport, is one of the groups to have secured funding, and will be getting nearly £3,000 for a modular riser to be used in stage performances.

Carrie Morrow, a volunteer at Crystal Chords, said:

“We are thrilled to have received a Community Trust Fund grant from Manchester Airport as we have been needing to buy some new risers, the curved steps that our members stand on so they can all see the musical director.

“It’s important that we have some lightweight, easy to store risers that all members can collectively assemble, so they can rehearse in a professional manner when they meet every Thursday night in Stockport. It also means they can transport them to performance venues using their own vehicles.

“The grant means we can buy the risers this year – they will be the chorus’ most valuable asset and will allow our group to continue to thrive for many years to come.”

Elsewhere in the borough, Shaw Heath Crown Green Bowls Club was awarded over £2,100 to fund chairs, a gazebo and umbrellas.

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

“We are thrilled to have been able to support such a wide array of good causes with this latest round of donations. There are so many fantastic community-led projects across Greater Manchester and Cheshire which often don’t get the recognition they deserve, but we’re proud to support them with the funding they need to serve their local communities, via the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund.

“The deadline for applications ahead of the next meeting is Saturday 7^th September, so if you are working on a community project which could use some extra help, please visit our website to apply.”