Cradle to Career creates £15,000 Birkenhead community fund

A new community fund worth £15,000 has been made available by Cradle to Career (C2C) to support families in North Birkenhead who have great ideas to boost their community.

The Cradle to Career Working Group has created the exciting new #OurNorthEnd Community Seed Fund, to finance community-led projects that families in the area feel they need to be able to thrive.

It has been boosted by an award from philanthropist and Redrow founder Steve Morgan (pictured, main image), who said, “The Steve Morgan Foundation recognised the importance of communities working together and the idea for Cradle to Career in North Birkenhead, and giving every child a chance, was born out of that.

“We brought together senior leaders and education charities to properly join forces for the first time. We’re as eager as anyone to see positive results and lasting change.”

Individuals and community organisations can apply for one-off grants of up to £1,000 to develop activities or experiences in North Birkenhead that will have a lasting impact on their community, or to test out a new idea that they have but never had the opportunity to put into practice.

Speaking about the inspiring new fund, Eve Barrett, trust manager for North Birkenhead Development Trust and chair of the Community Working Group, said, “We know that local people are the experts in what their community wants and needs. 

“The Community Seed Fund is a tangible opportunity for local people to be in control of the purse strings, and an opportunity for them to make the changes they want to see in the area.” 

Those interested in applying for the #OurNorthEnd Community Fund or nominating someone else should do so by 9am on Monday, June 21 2021, via an application form or on the Cradle to Career website. 

Video and audio applications are also being welcomed and ‘How to Apply’ Zoom chats have been arranged for Saturday June 5, 1-2pm, Monday June 7, 2-3pm and Wednesday June 9, 8.30-9.30pm.

Cradle to Career is a multi-million-pound initiative that will transform the lives of children and young people in North Birkenhead, boosting literacy standards, supporting families and creating opportunities for residents for up to 20 years.

Charitable donations of almost £3 million over three years have been pledged by the Steve Morgan Foundation, SHINE Trust and UBS Optimus. The Cradle to Career team will be based at St James Centre when Covid-19 restrictions allow, but for further information, please contact cradle2career@righttosucceed.org.uk .