News - Helping CWVA members access important funding

Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) has helped Entep Properties Limited put £25,000 into the local community sector, providing organisations with a real boost and helping them continue delivering their invaluable services.

The main objectives of Entep, a successful partnership between Essar and Cheshire West and Chester Council, are to promote and encourage industrial and commercial activity in the borough, with a particular focus on assisting the formation and development of new small businesses.

Entep offers industrial units and office space at two prime locations in the Ellesmere Port area: Canal Bridge Enterprise Centre and Rother Drive Business Centre.

CWVA was approached by Entep last year to help manage a Community Fund worth £25,000, providing an opportunity for charities, voluntary and community organisations in Ellesmere Port to apply for grants of up to £3,000 for existing services or activities or new projects.

Funding could be used to pay towards sessional workers or part salaries, purchase equipment, volunteer expenses, training to upskill volunteers or staff or overheads (for example, utility bills for community buildings, room hire, membership subscriptions, insurance and more).

CWVA received significant interest in the Community Fund, with the following projects supported.

• Citizens Advice Cheshire West – a sizeable donation to the Fuel Bank.
• Golden Star Boxing Club – supporting around 40 young people to reduce anti-social behaviour by giving them something positive to focus their energies on. Maintenance or replacement of equipment, additional hours of opening to accommodate more young people, training for assistant coaches, cost of certificates and travel.
• MHA Communities Cheshire West – room hire for social activities in the community for older people, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions to reduce social isolation and loneliness (70 people per week).
• Messy Mischief Makers – messy play for children and families. Paints and crafts, sensory toys, storage equipment, refreshments, volunteer expenses and insurance for 200 families.
• The Boaty Theatre Company – cover rent and overheads at The Boatshed, Whitby Road to continue delivering youth theatre, arts and crafts and other classes free of charge for 100 people per week.
• Westminster Families Community Group – cover costs of running a community café (60 families per month), weekly lunch clubs for 30 people, insurance and more.
• Bridge Community Wellness Gardens – urban farm with a caring and therapeutic environment. Cover costs of sessional staff, volunteer expenses, craft supplies and sensory equipment for weekly activities for 10 people per week.
• Milestone Mums – peer support group for mums with mental health problems. Insurance, sessional worker and craft supplies for up to 200 families.
• Trinity Methodist Church – a safe and welcoming place for those in need. Weekly bread-making and cooking sessions, sessional leader, equipment and stock, for around 60 people.

Clare Harrison, Deputy Chief Executive of CWVA, said: “We were delighted to be chosen to manage the grants process for Entep.

“At CWVA, we work with a number of local funders to make sure funding is going to places where it’ll have a real impact.

“The COVID-19 pandemic put real pressure on our sector and the current conflict in Ukraine is only going to increase that further so it’s always fantastic to have extra funding opportunities for our members.

“We pride ourselves on providing our members with plenty of funding advice so they can maximise their income, continue developing their services and providing their invaluable support in our communities.”

Debra Parker from Entep added: “We’re pleased to be working with CWVA to ensure funding gets to organisations that continue to help and support the people of Ellesmere Port.”

If you’re a local funder who’d like to work with CWVA, please email Joanne Stanton, Senior Development Officer: joanne.stanton@chesterva.org.uk.