Stansted Airport Community Fund: Apply now for share of cash bonanza

Stansted Airport Community Fund (SACF) is gearing up for a £150,000 give-away in grants this year.

Projects that support community life, leisure activities, the environment and conservation qualify for donations of up to £5,000, with a flagship award of up to £50,000 allocated annually.

The fund, formerly the Stansted Airport Community Trust, has been relaunched to strengthen ties with the community and comply with conditions linked to owner MAG's (Manchester Airports Groups) successful planning application to expand to 43 million passengers a year.

The airport will donate £1.5 million to the fund over the next decade, which will be topped up by fines levied on airlines that breach strict noise restrictions.

Daniel Burford, Stansted's community manager, said: "Stansted Airport is an integral part of the community and we take our responsibility to be a good neighbour, provide educational opportunities and drive sustainability forward very seriously.

"The new fund will allow our new committee members to work with local people in deciding where the £150,000 annual donation from the airport goes.

"We've made the application process as simple as possible, but we're happy to offer help to any groups who may be interested in applying.

"We know community organisations continue to face huge challenges, and grant funding like this is more important than ever. We hope the fund will help bring the community together and make a positive difference for residents."

Cllr Garry LeCount, Uttlesford District Council member for Henham and Elsenham and chair of SACF, said: "The new committee are representatives of the airport's stakeholders and have an exceptional knowledge of the local area.

"We all have a common aim and desire to ensure the local community benefits from the Stansted Airport Community Fund."

The independent committee will meet every three months to consider requests. A streamlined online application process will enable organisations within a 10-mile radius of the airport to check their eligibility and apply for funding. See https://stanstedairportctf.smapply.org/ for details.

The former Stansted Airport Community Trust, funded since 2005 as part of a Section 106 planning obligation, awarded over £1m in grants to hundreds of organisations. Its final donation, in April 2022, was £11,605 to St Clare Hospice volunteers in Great Dunmow.