Charities, social enterprises and grassroots organisations across Tameside are being encouraged to apply for funding of up to £5,000 as Vernon Building Society opens its latest grant rounds.
The Vernon Charitable Foundation launched its newest round of applications on 4 August 2025, with a deadline of 29 August 2025. Since its creation in January 2024, the foundation has distributed £73,500 to 24 local charities as part of Vernon Building Society’s centenary legacy, supporting communities across Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
In its first year, the foundation funded a range of projects, including £3,950 to Hulme’s Bridging the Gap foodbank, which supports people facing poverty in Hulme, Moss Side and Whalley Range.
Vernon Building Society Chief Executive Darren Ditchburn says “The latest round of our Charitable Foundation funding application is now open, and we’re eager to hear from charities across Manchester that work to relieve poverty or develop their local community. It’s a really simple application and it may result in a grant of up to £5,000.
“We know local not-for-profits are struggling to survive right now. Vernon Charitable Foundation is just one of the many ways that we’re helping them. We also support local grassroot organisations and social enterprises via a separate funding programme called Community Stars, which gives out smaller grants of up to £2,000 for worthy causes, including those not registered as a charity.
“Over the past 13 years we have donated over £140,000 via Community Stars to fund everything from local transportation, to new equipment, room hire and food. We know these small donations go a long way. Our grant applications for Community Stars close on August 11, so we urge people to be quick and apply before the deadline, however applications will open up again later in the year.”
The building society also runs its Community Stars grant programme, which has already helped several Manchester organisations in 2025. Beneficiaries include The Beautiful Minds community group in Moston, which provides emotional support for over-60s through regular coffee mornings, and St John’s Amateur Boxing Club in Chorlton, which used its funding to train volunteers.
Darren continues: “We’re committed to our community and want to see our Members and local residents thrive. We do this by helping them to own their home and grow their savings. As a mutual, we invest our profits back into the Society, which enables us to support local charities and community groups by donated grants to good causes, volunteering our time and skills to help local initiatives thrive, sponsoring community events, investing in financial education at local schools or loaning out use of our offices to local businesses. We believe that together, we’re greater.”
Vernon Charitable Foundation grant applications need to be submitted by 29 August 2025 via https://www.thevernon.co.uk/charitable-foundation/.
Vernon Building Society’s Community Starts grant applications need to be submitted by 5pm on 11 August 2025 via https://www.thevernon.co.uk/community-hub/community-stars/
All successful applications will be notified within four weeks.
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