The Right to Grow was launched in Bury in June 2025 as part of the campaign led by Incredible Edible Prestwich and District. The Right to Grow campaign was about improving the council process to make it easier for community groups and other VCSE organisations to take on council-owned land for food growing projects.

Following the press release, local resident Natasha approached Incredible Edible Prestwich and District about starting a new growing site in Ramsbottom. Bury Council reviewed the proposed site and approved it for growing activities in July 2025.

Radcliffe Self- Managed Allotments are a well-established organisation who were founded during the first world war. They offer low-cost plots to local residents in addition to a veterans and community school plot. Joy and Mary from Radcliffe Self-Managed Allotment Association contacted Bury VCFA in November 2024 to discuss plans for their new community wildlife area. The committee had drawn up plans with the help of Groundwork GM to create a new community area for the local schools to use for outdoor education including growing vegetables and learning about bees.

A landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Bury’s Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector and public sector partners, marking a new era of collaboration aimed at improving outcomes for local communities.

Our Deputy Chief Officer, Marie, recently featured on Roch Valley Radio’s Community Spotlight with Geoff, sharing all things Bury VCFA and how we’re supporting the local VCSE sector.

In the interview, Marie highlights:

  The Bury Fund – Let’s Make A Difference Grants
Now open for applications until Wednesday 17th September 2025, supporting Bury-based or operating VCSE groups. She shares how past grants have helped deliver projects like holiday clubs, digital skills sessions, and community-building activities.

Radcliffe Juniors Football Club (JFC) are a football club based at Red Bank Playing Field in Radcliffe who offer football coaching for under 18’s across 53 teams. They have recently completed work installing their 3G pitch and new clubhouse. Neil, the team manager for Radcliffe JFC Under 10’s Ballers team approached Bury VCFA for support with funding for new kit and equipment. 

Bury VCFA (Voluntary, Community and Faith Alliance) is proud to announce that following independent assessment, it has been awarded the Volunteer Centre Quality Award (VCQA), a nationally recognised standard of excellence for volunteer centres in the UK.

On Thursday, 26th June 2025, we were delighted to host our Grants Celebration Event as part of #SmallCharityWeek – a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the amazing work happening across our communities.

The event focused on:
🎉 Celebrating a year of local grant-making
🤝 Championing and supporting grassroots initiatives
💡 Inspiring change and connection across Bury

On Wednesday 11th June 2025, the Green Community Café in Clarence Park came alive with energy, conversation, and creativity as the Bury Age Without Limits event delivered a fantastic day of fun, learning and connection. Organised by the Bury Older People’s Network in collaboration with the Ageing in Place project, the event celebrated the talents and experiences of older people, while inviting the wider community to get involved.

Let Your Light Shine are a new community group based in Prestwich that provide holiday activities for children. Sherrie started the group after hosting a party for children in her son’s primary school class where she observed that many children were struggling with social isolation, which was affecting their mental health and development of social skills.