Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund pledges over £30,000 to local causes

In its first funding award of 2026, Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund has committed to more than £30,000 worth of grants to 20 charities and community projects, including nine in Stockport.

Since 1997, the fund has now pledged more than £4 million in donations in total. Managed by a committee of trustees from the local area, alongside representatives from the airport, it considers applications from within a 10-mile radius of the airport site with a maximum pledge of £3,000 per group or project.

Among those receiving the maximum pledge at the latest meeting was Greater Manchester Blood Bikes, a group of volunteer motorcyclists delivering blood, plasma and other medical supplies to NHS hospitals free of charge, at night, at the weekend and on bank holidays. The group will use the funding to purchase helite turtle vests for its drivers – a type of safety vest with an inbuilt airbag. Russ Harrison, the charity’s Chair, said:

“This grant will help keep our volunteer riders safe as they carry out their vital work delivering medical supplies to NHS facilities across the region.

“Greater Manchester Blood Bikes is a charity that relies heavily on the generosity of the public and businesses and the commitment of our wonderful volunteers to keep our service running for the benefit of those who need our help.”

In Stockport, a heritage trail in Cheadle will be fitted with informational signs thanks to a £2,995 pledge from the Community Trust Fund to Cheadle Civic Society.

Phillip Gould-Bourn MBE, Chairman of Cheadle Civic Society, said:

“We’re very grateful to Manchester Airport for the grant from their Community Trust Fund, which will support the creation of a Heritage Trail around our village. The Trail will be a valuable community asset that brings people together to learn more about local history and is a long-held ambition of the Society, which the Airport is helping bring to fruition.”

Other Stockport groups to secure funding from the fund include: Signpost Stockport for Carers, Culture Bridge MCR, Webb Lane Allotments, Heatons Men in Sheds, Stockport Canal Boat Trust, Olive Community Project, Drawing Board Productions CIC, and The Friends of Romiley Station.

Helen McNabb, Trustee for the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund, said:

“We’re very proud to serve communities around Greater Manchester and Cheshire – not just by connecting people to their destinations of choice, or by employing people from the local area, but by actively contributing to community led projects that we know will make a big difference locally. The Community Trust Fund has been running for almost 30 years now and it has made an immeasurable impact during that time in sharing the airport’s success with surrounding communities. We’re delighted to be supporting 20 further fantastic causes following our latest meeting and look forward to considering more applications in the spring.”