From Medical Volunteers to Village Heritage Trails Manchester Airport Fund Supports Local Initiatives

(NEWS) MANCHESTER, UK, 2026-Mar-9 — /Travel PR News/ — Manchester Airport has allocated more than £30,000 to support local charities and community initiatives through its long-running Community Trust Fund, continuing a programme designed to share the airport’s success with neighbouring communities. At its first meeting of 2026, the fund approved grants for 20 organisations across Greater Manchester, Stockport, Trafford and Cheshire.

According to information released by the airport, the latest round of funding totals £30,392 and will help support a range of grassroots initiatives, including community centres, sports clubs, heritage projects and social support services. Established in 1997, the Community Trust Fund provides grants of up to £3,000 to not-for-profit groups located within a 10-mile radius of the airport. Over nearly three decades, the programme has distributed more than £4 million to local projects.

The Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund has been supporting grassroots projects across Greater Manchester and Cheshire for nearly three decades. The fund distributes up to £100,000 each year to not-for-profit organisations located within a 10-mile radius of the airport, helping finance projects that deliver lasting benefits for local communities. Since its creation in 1997, the programme has supported hundreds of initiatives ranging from youth programmes and outdoor education projects to sports clubs, accessibility improvements and community support services.

Previous rounds of funding have supported a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving wellbeing, education and community engagement. Earlier grants have helped organisations develop outdoor learning programmes, upgrade community facilities, improve park accessibility and provide equipment for youth groups and social services. In one example, funding helped convert a retired school bus into an outdoor learning space for young people, while other grants have supported scout groups, community workshops and food support services, illustrating how the fund continues to invest in projects that strengthen neighbourhoods around the airport.

Among the organisations receiving the maximum grant in the latest round is Greater Manchester Blood Bikes, whose volunteer riders deliver blood, plasma and medical supplies to NHS hospitals outside normal working hours. The group plans to use the funding to purchase specialised safety vests with built-in airbags for its motorcycle riders.

Community groups focused on local recreation and heritage have also benefited. Friends of Cowfield Park received funding to install benches and picnic tables at a popular green space in Altrincham, while Cheadle Civic Society will use its grant to install informational signage as part of a heritage trail highlighting the history of the village.

Elsewhere, Mobberley Victory Hall Bowling Club secured a £3,000 grant to purchase a specialised mower to maintain its bowling greens, supporting a club that promotes social connection and community activities for residents of the Cheshire village.

The Community Trust Fund considers applications on a quarterly basis and prioritises projects that deliver long-term community benefit through equipment, facilities or infrastructure improvements. Local charities and voluntary groups can apply for funding of up to £3,000 for projects that demonstrate lasting value for their communities.

With another application deadline approaching in March, the airport says it hopes to continue supporting grassroots initiatives that strengthen local communities while reinforcing the airport’s longstanding relationship with the region it serves.