Mayoral Investment Fund (MIF) - VCFSE sector programme - Application Form

Thank you for your interest in applying for the VCFSE Grant Programme as part of the Mayoral Investment Fund (MIF). Please find more information below about the priorities and outcomes for the programme, eligibility requirements, and timeline for applications.

This £650,000 investment will create new opportunities for Cheshire and Warrington’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.

The VCFSE Grant Programme is funded by the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority through the Mayoral Investment Fund (MIF). The programme forms part of the Celebrating Place: Communities, Culture and Renewal theme of the MIF.

It will be led by Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Partnership (CWIP), a collective of the four infrastructure support charities across the area – Cheshire Community Action, Cheshire West Voluntary Action, CVS Cheshire East and Warrington Voluntary Action – along with Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW) and Cheshire Community Foundation (CCF).

Applications are coordinated by CWVA on behalf of CWIP through Plinth.

Eligibility criteria

Organisations with the following structures will be eligible for this programme.

  • Charities and charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)

  • Constituted groups and clubs

  • Community interest companies (CICs) and other not-for-profit organisations

  • Town and parish councils (for the community buildings and spaces element)

  • Community sports organisations

  • Faith organisations where the building has significant wider community use (for the community buildings and spaces element)

Only organisations across Cheshire and Warrington – within the boroughs of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington – will be eligible.

The VCFSE Grant Programme has three key priorities.

  • Prevention and progression grants

  • Community buildings and spaces grants

  • Feasibility pipeline development

Timeline for VCFSE Grant Programme

The programme will be delivered through two funding rounds.

Round one

  • 12 October 2026 – programme launches and opens for applications

  • 22 November 2026 – six-week window for applications closes

  • December 2026 – successful projects notified, with grant agreements and payments issued

  • January 2027 – funded projects begin delivery

  • 31 March 2028 – all delivery through the programme concludes 

Round two

  • 5 April 2027 – programme reopens for applications

  • 14 May 2027 – six-week window for applications closes

  • June 2026 – successful projects notified, with grant agreements and payments issued

  • July 2027 – funded projects begin delivery

  • 31 March 2028 – all delivery through the programme concludes

Please note that the application process on Plinth will close after the round one deadline, before reopening ready for the round two launch.

Funding for the two rounds has been allocated in the following way.

 

2026-27 (round one)

2027-28 (round two)

Revenue funding (prevention and progression grants; feasibility pipeline development)

£185,500

 

£79,500

Capital funding (community buildings and spaces grants)

£115,500

£269,500

Total

£301,000

£349,000

Advice and support

A detailed Application Pack has been created to provide more information about the programme, including specific outcomes and outputs that need to be achieved through projects.

We'd encourage you read this guidance in full before applying.

Several online webinars will be held for the VCFSE Grant Programme, outlining its priorities and application process.

VCFSE sector organisations are also encouraged to reach out to their local infrastructure organisations for any support they might need.

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