Stockport Labour Group has secured approval for a £200,000 one-off investment to strengthen community cohesion across the borough as part of the Council’s budget
The budget amendment is rooted in a clear belief: community cohesion is not a “nice to have” — it is essential infrastructure for a safe, confident and resilient borough.
Stockport is home to proud, diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods. However, inequality between communities remains significant. Around 56,000 residents live in the borough’s most deprived areas, and Stockport now contains both some of the most deprived and least deprived neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester At the same time, the borough continues to grow and change, with more than 160 languages now spoken in local schools
Stockport Labour’s proposal recognises that as communities evolve, investment in connection, belonging and mutual understanding must evolve too.
The £200,000 package will fund three key areas
- First, a borough-wide listening programme to better understand residents’ experiences of belonging, connection and safety.
- Second, a flexible Community Cohesion Grants scheme to support grassroots projects, shared spaces and local initiatives that bring people together across generations and backgrounds.
- Third, a dedicated “Feeling Safe and Secure” fund to help communities at risk of hate crime access security improvements, including support to draw down available Home Office funding.
The amendment takes a preventative approach — investing early to strengthen relationships and reduce the risk of tensions escalating in the future
Stockport Labour Group Leader Cllr Christine Carrigan said:
“If we want neighbourhoods that feel safe and confident, we have to be prepared to invest in them. That starts with properly listening to residents and supporting the shared spaces and values that bring people together. Our amendment focuses on strengthening relationships, easing tensions and making sure everyone, whatever their background, feels they have a place in Stockport.”
The funding represents a practical step towards building stronger, more connected communities across the whole borough.