Fourteen community groups from across Greater Manchester and Cheshire are celebrating after splitting over £27,000 between them thanks to the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund, taking the total donated to £3.5 million.
Stockport Foodbank at Hazel Grove Baptist church has received £1,169 for fridges to help keep food fresh. Speaking about what it means to receive the funds, Nigel Telford, Manager of Stockport Foodbank, said:
“This grant will allow us to expand the food that is offered to those facing tough time, to now include bread, fresh fruit and vegetables which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our clients.”
Other groups to benefit this year included Wythenshawe Community Farm who received £2,675; the Friends of Dean Drive Park in Wilmslow received £2,891 in funding for an adventure trail; and Mere and Tabley Community Club received the maximum £3,000 to improve access for wheelchair users.
Each year, Manchester Airport donates more than £100,000 to the Community Trust Fund, as well as the income it receives from fines levied on aircraft exceeding noise limits when operating out of the airport. Wendy Sinfield, Community Relations Manager for Manchester Airport, said:
“It’s great to see so many worthwhile organisations benefitting from the Community Trust Fund. We know it can make a huge difference to those applying and we’d encourage any local groups looking for funding to get in touch and see if it’s something that could work for them.”
Started in 1997, The Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund has donated more than £3.5m to 1,571 local community, social and environmental groups in Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The Community Trust Fund award grants to a maximum of £3,000 and meetings are held quarterly to allocate the funding. Local groups within a 10 mile radius of the airport can apply for funding online by 29 November 2019.