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Kao SEED Fund opens for second time to support community projects in Manchester

Kao Data, the specialist developer and operator of data centres, has announced the return of the Kao SEED Fund for a second time. The Kao SEED Fund will distribute funding pots of between £500 and £2,500, to community groups, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations in Reddish for projects that will run throughout 2027.  

The Kao SEED Fund, which stands for Social Enterprise and Environmental Development Fund, opens for new applications on Wednesday, November 4. It coincides with the ongoing construction of Kao Data’s new £350m data centre in North Reddish. 

This year’s fund will focus on two themes: 

  • Environmental Sustainability: projects that reduce waste, improve biodiversity, strengthen local links to nature, such as community gardens, alleyway projects, sustainable food growing and tool libraries. 
  • Enterprise Innovation: projects that give local enterprises the chance to trial new initiatives that benefit the community and support local economic resilience, such as incubator market stalls and makers markets. 

The fund is once again being managed by Stockport’s charity infrastructure organisation, Sector 3, which will coordinate the application process, administer the funding and support successful projects. 

The first Kao SEED Fund supported 20 amazing community projects across Stockport throughout 2025 and included plastic donation stations and bike repair schemes to therapeutic gardening initiatives and employability programmes. 

Lizzy McDowell, Director of Marketing at Kao Data, said: “It’s incredibly important to us as a business to play our part in the communities where we site our data centres. The first Kao SEED Fund round funded some truly incredible community projects from across the borough of Stockport and we were really privileged to get to know them and follow their progress.  

“The next Kao SEED Fund round will focus on community groups and organisations located in North Reddish and South Reddish wards in order to support communities close to the data centre site. We cannot wait to find out what innovative community projects and initiatives will be on the horizon for Reddish residents.” 

Stockport MP Navendu Mishra supports the Kao SEED Fund and added, “Community organisations and charities play a vital role in supporting people across Stockport and strengthening our local communities. The Kao SEED Fund is a fantastic opportunity for groups in North Reddish and South Reddish to secure funding for projects that make a real difference to local people and I would encourage eligible organisations to apply.” 

Applications will close on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, and funding will be awarded from January 2027. 

Apply here 

There will be a Meet the Funder event on Wednesday November 11, 2026 at Re:Dish in Reddish, for charities and community groups to find out more about the SEED Fund.

Book your place here 

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If your application is successful, Harlow Council will transfer the grant by BACS.  Bank details (account name, number and sort code) will need to be supplied with a summary of accounts. 

Funding conditions:  If your application is successful, your project must be delivered by 31 December 2026. You will have to return any grant funds if the project is not delivered or the organisation receiving the funding stops operating.

A contract agreement will need to be signed between your organisation and Harlow District Council before any funding is granted.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Grant recipients will be required to provide an end of project report to establish whether the project has met its aims and objectives, as well as to assess the overall impact on participants. Funding for the project is provided on the basis that the Project Evaluation form is returned within the agreed project timescale (no later than 31 January 2027).

Risks and Liabilities: In giving grants the ‘Harlow Council’ will require the supported project organisation or groups to accept all risks and liabilities associated with the activity being supported. This will be a condition of the grant.  Copies of relevant documents may need to be provided if the application has been approved.

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The Council is committed to handling your personal information in line with the data processing principles.  The Data Protection Legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) sets the legal framework for how we collect, handle and process personal data and for your rights as a ‘data subject.’

General Data Protection Regulation:  Personal data provided by you will be processed in accordance with this protocol. For more details, please see https://www.harlow.gov.uk/privacy-notice

Thank you for taking the time to read these guidance notes. If you have any questions, please get in touch with health.wellbeing@harlow.gov.uk.

FAQs

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  1. Who can apply?
    The fund is open to not-for-profit community groups and grassroots initiatives based in Stockport.
     
  2. What types of projects are eligible?
    We encourage projects focused on environmental sustainability, community cohesion, and local economic development.
     
  3. How much funding is available?
    Grants range from £500 to £2,500 for pilot projects or to enhance existing initiatives.
     
  4. Is this the sole funding for this project?
    If not, please expand on the additional match funding that you currently have or are in the process of applying for.
     
  5. Are there any restrictions on grants under £500?
    Yes, please note that grants under £500 may be subject to different guidelines or restrictions, which will be communicated upon application.
     
  6. When will we know if our project was selected?
    Notifications will be sent by March 31, 2025.
     
  7. How can I apply for a grant?
    Applications can be submitted through our online portal, where you will find detailed guidelines and forms.
     
  8. What happens if my application is unsuccessful?
    If your application is not successful, we encourage you to seek feedback and consider reapplying in future funding rounds.
     
  9. When is the application deadline?
    Please check our website for the latest application deadlines and any upcoming funding rounds.