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Community
Empowerment
Fund

Local Solutions Community Empowerment Fund is open to individuals and groups within the Liverpool City Region

Local Solutions Community Empowerment Fund

The Community Empowerment Fund empowers individuals and groups to create projects that will make a lasting positive impact in their own communities. By offering grants and resources, the fund gives grassroots organisations and community leaders the tools they need to take action on local challenges. It’s all about helping people, bring their ideas to life, promoting fairness, and building stronger more self-sufficient communities from the ground up.

CEF image

We want these grants to support smaller projects, ideas and initiatives that come through, or inspire, voluntary social action, rather than to fund larger established charities and community groups.

If you have an idea that would make a difference to people in your community but need a little funding or support, then the Community Empowerment Fund might be right for you.

Community Empowerment Fund Guide
Printed Application Form
Online Application Form

For more information contact: CEF@localsolutions.org.uk
07773 395429

Community Empowerment Fund Impact Report March - October 2024

Hover over the images below to see some of the projects we have funded

Merseyside Dementia Friendly Radio

Merseyside Dementia Friendly Radio, based at Speke Training and Education Centre, has received funding from the Local Solutions Community Empowerment Fund. Founded by Nat, the station provides a calm, structured, and ad-free listening experience for people living with dementia. With over 250 monthly listeners, it helps reduce social isolation, offers entertainment, and signposts key support services for individuals and carers. The funding will support essential running costs, acoustic soundproofing, and new equipment to help sustain this vital service. Listen at mdfr.co.uk.

Phoenix Social Group

Phoenix Social Group in Stockbridge Village, run by volunteers, has received Local Solutions Community Empowerment Fund support to help people 55+ with living costs and isolation. Every Monday, 25+ residents gather for a meal, hot drinks, and bingo, offering connection and companionship. Many live alone, making this a vital lifeline. The funding covers food, drinks, and utilities from November to January, ensuring this support continues through winter.

Old Swan Boxing Club

Old Swan Amateur Boxing Club, a vibrant community hub, has received a grant from Local Solutions' Community Empowerment Fund. Welcoming 200 young people aged 6-24 weekly, including many with neurodiverse conditions, the club provides an inclusive space for fun, fitness, and personal growth. Parents report benefits like improved sleep, calmer behaviour, and increased confidence. The funding will support coach training and qualifications while keeping membership fees affordable, ensuring accessibility for all families.

Lister Residents Association

Lister Residents Association, recently awarded a grant from our Community Empowerment Fund, has been transforming Kensington’s community space for over 20 years. Once an overgrown area, it is now a thriving hub with rockeries, a sensory garden, a barbecue area, and a memorial garden, maintained by dedicated volunteers and open to all residents. The space serves around 200 people annually through personal visits and events like Halloween and summer gatherings. With the grant, the Association has added a wooden outhouse, enabling year-round social activities and strengthening the community spirit.

Greenbank Giants Boccia Club

Boccia (pronounced bot-cha) is the most inclusive sport you will find, and it is fastest growing disability sport in the world. It’s easy to play, but harder to master. It is a Paralympic target ball sport which tests both muscle control and accuracy. Athletes throw, kick or use a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a 'jack' ball. Greenbank Boccia Club run weekly free sessions in Greenbank Sports Academy every Wednesday that are open to anyone with a disability- visible or not. The funding that the group have received will enable them to pay for the court fees for whole year so that they can continue to offer the sessions free of charge.

Liverpool Basketball Club

We’re excited to announce that Liverpool Basketball Club has received a grant from our Community Empowerment Fund. With over 150 members aged 6 to 14, the club fosters teamwork and physical activity. The grant will support a member in earning a coaching qualification, strengthening the club’s volunteer-led future. If you have a community project in need of financial support, the Community Empowerment Fund could help!

Trinity Wellness

Trinity Wellness supports women in Merseyside to improve their mental, physical and emotional health. Founders Lauren, Amy, and Angela provide holistic sessions in a safe, welcoming space, including life coaching, mindfulness and exercise, where mums can bring young children without pressure. With Local Solutions funding, they’ll deliver 16 sessions for 15 women in Litherland and Netherton, fostering peer support and connections through group chats and WhatsApp. The founders believe supported mums become positive role models for their families and communities.

445th St Paul’s Rainbows

The 445th St Paul’s Rainbows, part of Girlguiding, is a vibrant group for girls aged 4-7 in West Derby, Liverpool, offering a fun, creative space to learn and grow. With support from the Community Empowerment Fund, the Rainbows will work towards their Have Fun & Take Action badge by engaging in litter-picking, learning about recycling and protecting the environment. The funding will provide essential resources like litter pickers, craft supplies and badge books, fostering teamwork, creativity and environmental responsibility. This support enables the Rainbows to enjoy meaningful activities that promote personal growth and community pride.

Mersey Marauders FC

Mersey Marauders FC, Merseyside's LGBT+ football club, offers a supportive space for LGBT+ individuals to play and connect, promoting diversity and inclusion. With the Community Empowerment Fund support, the club will recruit new players, focusing on those from low-income backgrounds, ethnic minorities and trans and non-binary communities. The funding will also cover essential equipment and financial subsidies, ensuring accessibility for all and fostering a thriving, inclusive football community.

Twelfth Collective

Twelfth Collective is a group of creatives aged 16+ in Liverpool, dedicated to inspiring and supporting others through skill-sharing and creative expression. With funding from the Community Empowerment Fund, they will run a free workshop for young people, offering hands-on experience in camera work, sound engineering and vocal training. The initiative will provide valuable skills and industry insights, empowering Liverpool’s next generation of creatives to build confidence and explore their potential.

Walton Amateur Boxing Club

Founded in 2018, Walton Amateur Boxing Club welcomes around 80 young people weekly, offering boxing for fun or competition. With members who've represented their county and country, the gym inspires all attendees. The funding will help keep session costs at £1, purchase new gloves & helmets and cover coach training for England Level 1 accreditation, ensuring the club remains accessible to everyone.

Mind Connect CIC

Mind Connect, funded by our Community Empowerment Fund, offers free Monday drop-in sessions at The Market Place, Parklands Speke (L24 0TY) from 10:30–11:30am and 2:30–3:30pm. These sessions provide a safe space to improve mental well-being, build resilience, and connect with community support—no appointment needed. The fund also supports training a staff member as an accredited wellness coach to enhance community support.

Fir Tree Community Farm

Fir Tree Community Farm has received a grant from our Community Empowerment Fund, and we’re thrilled to share the impact. Founded in 2009, the farm combats social isolation by offering volunteer-led activities across its 5-acre site, including planting, vegetable picking, and apple pressing. The grant will fund an industrial apple press, allowing the farm to produce fresh juice from orchard apples. Proceeds from juice and vegetable sales will sustain the farm, while public apple pressing experiences will generate additional income. Volunteering at the farm builds community, connection, and meaningful relationships, making a real difference.

Autism Adventures Group

Autism Adventures Group has been awarded a £1,900 grant from our Community Empowerment Fund to support families across Liverpool. Founded by Julie after her son’s autism diagnosis, the group addresses the lack of support for parents. Over nine years, Julie has driven change, creating autism-friendly shopping, sports groups, and training for parents, while advocating at the highest levels. The grant will fund 4-week courses to help parents understand diagnoses, keep children safe, and advocate in education and employment, continuing Julie’s mission to empower families.

SAD Awareness Project

Sylvia Kalungi leads a group of around 30 black migrant women and women of color in Merseyside, meeting monthly to discuss shared challenges and offer peer support. During our visit, the group tackled the often-taboo topics of perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause, which are rarely discussed within their cultures. By sharing personal experiences, they work to demystify these subjects, explore symptoms and provide practical advice on seeking support from GPs, employers and coping strategies. Funding from Local Solutions has allowed the group to create online resources, extending support and guidance to more black migrant women facing similar issues.

Dockside Runners

Dockside Runners, a volunteer-led group in the city, welcomes 100-150 runners of all abilities, focusing on community and fitness over competition. Open to anyone 16+, it offers an inclusive space for all. With support from the Community Empowerment Fund, the group will train 8 Leaders in Running Fitness through England Athletics, enhancing its capacity to support runners of all levels. The funding also enables outreach to underrepresented groups, partnering with local organisations to promote running’s physical and mental health benefits. This grant will help Dockside Runners foster a diverse, inclusive community, reflecting the city’s vibrancy and promoting wellbeing through fitness.

Dockside Runners

One Day at a Time Guys is an art project for residents of Damien John Kelly House, a temporary home for men recovering from addiction. The house runs a daily schedule of 20 activities, from allotment work to cold water swimming, aimed at reducing isolation and supporting recovery. Funding has provided digital cameras, potter’s wheels, paints and canvases, enabling residents to express feelings and connect through creativity. These art sessions help the men explore recovery values like open-mindedness, willingness and honesty in a supportive, creative environment.

Empowering Minds Wirral

Empowering Minds Wirral is a support group for families connected to Rock Ferry Primary School, offering a safe space to discuss mental health and wellbeing. Meeting weekly at New Ferry Community Centre, the group provides immediate resources and peer support to address the long NHS waiting times for mental health services. With the Community Empowerment Fund, the group will operate for 39 weeks, ensuring local families can access vital tools and support to build resilience and strengthen their community.

First Speke Rainbows

First Speke Rainbows, a weekly group for girls aged 4-7 at Noah’s Ark Speke Baptist Church, provides a safe space for creative activities, confidence-building and making friendships. With funding, they will purchase arts, crafts, and sports equipment, helping the girls earn badges in various areas. The funding will also provide uniforms for children and volunteers who need them, ensuring everyone feels included and able to participate proudly. This support enhances the group's resources and commitment to inclusivity.

Wirral Wise Guys

Wirral Wise Guys is a Football Therapy initiative supporting men in Wirral facing mental, emotional or physical health challenges. The group offers a welcoming space for men of all abilities to build physical and mental resilience through football. With funding from the Community Empowerment Fund, the group will cover pitch hire for 12 months, ensuring free, accessible sessions that promote physical health and social connections. This support helps members maintain regular participation and develop positive routines.

Tuebrook Community Arts

Tom, an artist from Tuebrook, is dedicated to making art accessible to all. With funding, he ran free art workshops over the summer in Newsham Park, Tuebrook, aiming to build a community-driven public art program featuring workshops, exhibitions and public displays. The sessions, funded by the Community Empowerment Fund, introduced different art practices while fostering community and sustainability. Tom believes art boosts confidence, creates a sense of belonging and positively impacts how individuals view themselves and their role in the community.

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