Whether it's helping local clubs get hold of new kit, coaching new volunteers or simply giving the village hall a fresh lick of paint, Grassroots Grants aim to make a real and immediate difference to the work of the North West's small and local community groups.
In keeping the process as simple and easy as possible for applicants, the money is being distributed directly through seven local funders across the region - slightly larger local organisations already based in the community and selected because they are familiar with the needs and causes in each area.
Funded by the Office of The Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and run by the Community Development Foundation, the programme is to start making grants of between £250 and £5,000 to voluntary and community groups with annual incomes below £20,000.
Businesses across the region were also invited to get involved through investing in the scheme's innovative endowment match challenge - the first of its kind in England.
Within the £130million national programme, the Government has set aside a £50million pot from which it will match endowment investments from local businesses - offering them the chance to contribute directly to supporting and sustaining the communities in which they operate.
Each local funder has a match fund target that it must reach in order to release an endowment allocation from the Government.
The endowment element - which is also open to individual investors - aims to ensure that Grassroots Grants remain available for many years to come. It is estimated that with match funding and sound investment this £50million will be worth £150million when it starts paying out in 2011. In addition, as Gift Aid can be claimed on donations to a charitable cause, a £1,000 match-funded contribution from a business would be worth £2,560 to the fund.
There are 66 local funders who are ready and able to start taking donations and distributing grants directly in local areas across England over the upcoming years.
