We're sorry, but we've decided to pause all grant funding to new applications while we review our grant-making processes and priorities.

It's important we complete this review to help us maximise the impact our funding has on residents and the communities we serve.

We'll update this page as soon as we re-open the fund. However, this may not happen for several months.

Frequently asked questions about our North West grant-making review

  • Why have you suspended the grant programme?
    The economic climate has changed over recent years – and that has impacted our resident's needs. So, we're reviewing our strategic aims for the L&Q Foundation.

    We also want to review our North West grants programme to make sure funding has the maximum impact and meets the needs of our residents.
  • When will the grant programme resume?
    We're going to perform a full and detailed review. For that reason, we're not sure how long it will take to complete.

    We'll share an update on the timescales as soon as we know more.
  • What support is still on offer while the grant programme is suspended?
    Our Community Capacity Builders are still supporting organisations.

    Please don't hesitate to email the team and talk about any support you may need.
  • When you re-open the fund, will you still have the same funding priorities, budget and grant sizes?  
    Once we've completed the review, we'll share an update on funding priorities, budgets and grant sizes.
  • Where else can I access funding? 
    There are many funders, locally and nationally, that are open for applications.

    Thrive Trafford often publishes funding newsletters which you may find useful.

    In addition, our Community Capacity Builders will still support you in finding other funders to consider.
  • We've already received funding from you, does this review impact us? 
    If you've already received funding, this review will not impact what you have been funded to deliver.
  • Where can I get more information about this review? 
    To find out more about our North West community grants review, please email our Communities Manager, Zoe Taylor.

Community Capacity Building

Our team of Community Capacity Builders can still support you and your organisation with the following:


Coaching for success

We'll engage with you to have focused conversations on goal setting and how to reach them for short- and long-term plans.


Connecting

We'll introduce you to partners who can help your organisation increase its impact. Our networks expand across public, private, and voluntary sectors locally and nationally.


Income generation

We find the right sources of income for you through grant funding from L&Q or other funders, finding paying customers or accessing public sector commissioning.


Business support

We'll work with you to strengthen your business structure from exploring which organisational structure works for you to guidance on marketing, HR or governance.


Email our Community Capacity Builders team and we'll assign the relevant Community Capacity Builder for your work.

We're a Living Wage Funder

Being an accredited real Living Wage Funder means we will fund grant-funded job posts at the real Living Wage rate.

Real Living Wage Funders seek to ensure that all posts wholly or partially funded by the funder pay the real Living Wage unless there are particular reasons for this not to happen. These might include difficulties in maintaining differentials and the impact on other posts within the grantee's workforce.

The minimum wage in the UK is currently £9.50 an hour, but the UK real Living Wage, which is set independently and calculated following the basic cost of living in the UK, is £10.90.

Find out more on the Living Wage Funders website.

Working with 360Giving

We believe that with better information, grantmakers can be more effective and strategic decision-makers.

360Giving supports grantmakers to publish their grant data openly, understand their data, and use the data to create online tools that make grant-making more effective.