Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund

Merseyside Energy Recovery Ltd (MERL) provides a fund of up to £55,000 per year towards organisations and projects working to improve community life in and around Kirkby, Knowsley. This is known as the Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund.

SUEZ recycling and recovery UK is one of three companies comprising MERL and is the operator of the Wilton Energy from Waste Facility in Teesside, and the Rail Transfer Loading Station in Kirkby, Merseyside. As part of their commitment to being a good neighbour to the surrounding communities, SUEZ created the community fund for Knowsley, with a value of 10p per tonne exported by rail from the Rail Transfer Loading Station in Kirkby. The fund is available from MERL each year throughout the duration of the contract with Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority.

It enables community groups, charities, and projects in Kirkby to apply for funding to help get their ideas, charities, or projects off the ground. Specifically, the fund will support initiatives which aim to improve community life, health and wellbeing or the environment.

This funding provides a long-term and secure source of support for community and environmental groups in the following priority areas:

• Northwood
• Cherryfield
• Shevington
• Whitefield
• Prescot North (Knowsley Village)

All applicants must be formally constituted (e.g. a club, charity, friends-of group) and must be not-for-profit organisations. No individual can benefit personally from an award.

The Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund is anticipated to reopen for applications for the next round of funding in May 2024.

To ensure impartiality, an independent voluntary board of individuals with experience in assessing community funding bids will review all applications and make recommendations for approval to Merseyside Energy Recovery Ltd, which will take the final decision and issue funds.

Previous successful applicants to the Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund

Since being launched in 2018, the Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund has now invested more than £330,000 to good causes in and around Kirkby delivering community improvement, health and wellbeing or environmental projects.

Some of our successful applicants in 2023 include:

1. The CELLS Project received £9,000 for their ‘Family Matters’ programme which aims to protect vulnerable children and young people from crime and exploitation.
2. Bridge-It Community Wellbeing received £5,000 to restart their provision of mental health services following the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Centre 63 received £2,000 for their ‘Every Mind Matters’ project designed to help educate children and young people to live healthy lives and make informed choices.
4. F.C. Kirkby Foxes received £7,000 to purchase new football kits and assist with match day fees and the hire of training facilities.
5. The Perspective Theatre Company received £5,000 to deliver plays and workshops to raise awareness of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse in schools and colleges.
6. The Eco Therapy Garden received £9,000 to complete the final phase of landscaping for their Sensory Peace Garden project to support their talking therapy services.
7. Sports Alive received £2,000 to assist with the provision of physical and creative activities for children, and out-of-school trips during the half-term holidays.
8. Tower Hill ABC received £9,000 to build on their ‘Boxing Club to Community Hub’ project, which will include new kitchen facilities and a sauna for their aspiring boxers.
9. Knowsley Food Bank received £3,000 to support the expansion of their ‘Food Club’ model with equipment to support the setting up of a mobile food service.
10. Valencia Morris Dancers received £2,000 to purchase matching uniforms and equipment for around 75 members of their dance troupe.
11. Delaware Allotments received £2,000 to renovate their canteen with modern toilet and kitchen facilities to assist with visits from schools and adult social care groups.

SUEZ Communities Fund

The SUEZ Communities Fund supports community and environmental improvement projects through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, distributing funds contributed by SUEZ recycling and recovery UK.

Between 1997 and 2022, funds were distributed by SUEZ Communities Trust Ltd. Since the beginning of 2023, the funds contributed have been distributed by the independent charity Grantscape Ltd.

The Fund offers awards of up to £50,000 to not-for-profit organisations for projects that are eligible under the rules of the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.

If you are involved with a not-for-profit organisation and would like to find out if it is eligible for funding, visit the fund’s website to find out more.