The R4GM Community Fund is now the Renew Community Fund. We’ve made this change to better reflect where the funding comes from, and our future aims and ambitions.
We want Greater Manchester to be a place where…
We will also continue to support
You can register now ahead of the application window.
We will be hosting online application workshops for anyone interested in finding out more about the fund.
Renew is Greater Manchester’s reuse initiative – the largest of its kind in the country, Renew takes donations made by residents at recycling centres across Greater Manchester, these items are then cleaned, fixed and upcycledready for resale via the Renew shops and online.All of the items you see for sale at the Renew shops or online would otherwise have gone to waste. By rescuing it and putting it back into use, we’re capturing key resources. Money raised from these sales fund the Renew community fund it also supports good causes across Greater Manchester. For more information and to shop online Renew – Greater Manchester | Donate & Buy Pre-Loved Items | R4GM
We are encouraging more projects that focus on repair and reuse. When we fix something, borrow something, or buy second hand instead of new, we’re keeping existing items in use. Making new things involves mining or harvesting raw materials which damages our environment. Keeping things in use means we need less raw materials, which lessens the impact on our environment.
For example, instead of throwing away an old chair, you could give it away or sell it to someone who needs it or paint it a different colour it so it feels new again.
Even something as simple as changing a fuse in a plug or replacing a zip on a backpack counts.
These activities are different to recycling as the original item is kept in use. With recycling, items are broken down back into their raw materials to become new items. This process uses much more energy and resources than if we just kept the item in use.
Repair and reuse is much more effective at reducing carbon emissions than recycling alone, as it prevents the emissions from happening in the first place.
In Greater Manchester, most of us understand why it is important to recycle and how to do this properly. We want repair and reuse to become a part of daily life, just like recycling.
We want the fund to have the most impact possible, encouraging long-term, positive behaviour change in the communities involved in the projects we support.
We want projects that help to make fixing, donating, sharing, borrowing and buying pre-loved a normal part of everyday life.
With this in mind, we will be prioritising projects that encourage these activities. Other projects that encourage recycling and support local communities. may still receive funding, but they may not be scored as highly.
There are many benefits, including:
Each application is scored on its individual merit and the scoring process is outlined in the guidance (insert link)
There are lots of examples of previous projects that are a great fit for the fund.
These things encourage long term behaviour change.
No. The fund is still open to:
We will be hosting online application workshops for anyone interested in finding out more about the fund, here we will talk through the application process and help answer any of your questions.
Wildbrook Reviving Roots is a Community Composting project developing neighbourhood food and plant waste collection to make compost and provide learning opportunities in Fitton Hill, Oldham. The compost created will nourish the soil at the Wildbrook Community Growing Hub supplying fresh produce to Oldham Foodbank and a Community Vegbag.
The project aims to recycle and repurpose unusable textile waste, upcycling these materials into crafts and creations using basic sewing skills taught to participants, improving sustainability, reducing carbon emissions and educating GM residents about the impact of textile overconsumption and how they can contribute to a more circular economy.
Part of the Big Life group and the Zion and Kath Locke Healthy Living centres, the newly renovated Wesley community furniture will run weekly upcycling and repair workshops, art groups, an exhibition, and events to highlight the importance of recycling, reusing, repairing, and upskilling the local community.
Manchester Cycling Academy CIC, based in Moss Side operates The Bike Workshop. Cycle-Revival will run from the workshop and focus on giving new life to bicycles that end up in landfill and e-bikes with worn out batteries. Participants will experience community engagement, training, and educational and employment opportunities.
We collect pre-loved cooking equipment and utensils destined for landfill from our “drop off bins” across GM donated by the public/businesses. This is then sanitised and safety assured and redistributed to focus on supporting people ‘setting up home’ after homelessness or crisis, supported by cooking classes and reducing food waste.
A shared space for tackling root causes of poverty through low-cost food pantries, an emergency food bag service, referrals and signposting, and food courses and activities to help people manage their budget and food waste, improve their knowledge and skills to maintain a healthy diet, and improve employability.
