Community Engagement

How we support our communities

We support the neighbourhoods where our tenants live in three main ways:

• Strategic partnerships — working alongside local organisations who share our priorities
• Community-led initiatives — funding and practical support for groups already doing great work
• Events we deliver directly — at least eight community events a year, covering health, money matters and local facilities

What we prioritise is guided directly by what tenants have told us matters most — including health & wellbeing, the cost of living, community facilities, employment & skills, and the environment.

A copy of our Community Engagement Strategy can be found here.

Community Investment Fund: how to apply

We offer two routes for funding, depending on the size and length of your project:

• Small Grants (Donations Fund) — £100 to £1,000 for one-off events or short projects, decided by a staff panel, usually within a few weeks
• Strategic Partnerships — larger, multi-year support (typically 2–5 years) for organisations with lasting impact, assessed by staff and approved by our Board

Not sure which fits? Get in touch and we'll help you work out the right route — or whether a small grant now could be a first step towards a bigger partnership later.

What we fund

Both routes support projects linked to one or more of our six core themes:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Financial Inclusion / Cost of Living
• Community Facilities and Infrastructure
• Employment, Skills and Training
• Environment
• Community Safety and Cohesion

Who can apply, and where

Registered charities, CICs, constituted voluntary groups, and individuals or informal groups who can show how they're accountable (for example, a constitution or a bank account with two signatories). We cover Manchester, Stockport and Trafford, with a particular focus on neighbourhoods where Arawak Walton tenants live.

What happens after you apply

Small Grants: two members of staff score your application independently against our standard criteria, and we aim to confirm a decision within a few weeks. Strategic Partnerships: proposals are scored against a weighted set of criteria, with a recommendation going to our Senior Management Team and, for a final decision, the Board or a delegated committee. Successful applicants sign a short agreement, and we ask for a short Impact Evaluation Form once your project is complete (or an annual review each year for multi-year partnerships).

Application forms and guidance

Read our full Community Investment Fund FAQs, or go straight to the application form you need:

• Community Investment Fund FAQs 
• Small Grants Application Form 
• Strategic Partnership Application Form