Knowsley Council has allocated £135,434 in winter grants to 30 community groups, with awards of up to £5,000 each aimed at keeping residents connected during the cold months.
The funding will support residents with fuel and food poverty, reduce social isolation and improve health and wellbeing. Eligible groups include registered charities, voluntary, community and faith organisations, not-for-profits, community benefit societies and amateur sports clubs.
Funding details and background
In June, the council’s cabinet approved the launch of the Knowsley Community Fund 2026/27, aimed at supporting and empowering local community and voluntary organisations. The annual community investment of £730,000 injects funds into Knowsley’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector. Since 2022, the council has invested £1.8m through similar grant programmes.
The Knowsley Community Fund, launched in June 2025, consolidates previous programmes into one source of funding. The winter allocation of £135,434 will be delivered between November 2026 and April 2027.
What the grants will support
The funding allocations are aligned to specific local issues, including providing warm spaces, community activities, access to advice, food support and opportunities for social connection – with the aim of helping residents stay connected and safe in their communities.
Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council, voiced his support for the groups. He said: “They know their communities better than anyone and the Knowsley Community Fund is a crucial resource for tackling inequalities and making a real, positive difference in our residents’ lives.”
Examples of funded projects
Among the winter funding allocations are groups such as Act for Action CIC (Roby), which will deliver 20 “Warm Welcome Friday” sessions for 46 disabled adults, providing hot meals, accessible physical activity and keeping residents warm and connected throughout winter.
Diverse Active CIC (Boroughwide) will run a “Warm Welcome for Families” project delivering 10 free indoor winter wellbeing sessions for expectant and new parents. Grace Church Halewood will run a five-month project to reduce loneliness and social isolation for people aged 65+.
Home Start Knowsley (Roby) will deliver a “Cooking Up Winter” project with healthy cooking and budgeting sessions for families experiencing financial hardship. Karma in the Community CIC (St Michael’s) will run a weekly winter wellness programme including a mum and baby coffee morning.
Kids Activities and Bootcamps (KABS) CIC (Kirkby) will provide free hot meals, food hampers, supermarket vouchers and winter essentials for children, young people and families. Stockbridge Community Intergenerational Project (SCIP) will run a daily warm hub providing drinks and a social setting to vulnerable residents.
Tower Hill Community Hub CIC (Shevington) will run a 20-week winter wellness programme with weekly three-hour sessions for people experiencing poverty and isolation. The Sensory Hive Ltd (Whiston and Cronton) will offer 15 midweek sensory sessions for children and young people, including movement, connection and a hot meal. Page Moss Lane Baptist (Page Moss) will provide a supportive home-from-home every Wednesday where people don’t have to worry about the cost of anything.
Many other groups have winter projects aimed at keeping people warm, fed, connected to others, and reducing loneliness during the cold months.
