We’re proud to share that our refreshed Manx Community Assistance Scheme (MCA) will open for applications on Friday, March 13th, with improvements in the Supported Travel section designed to make it simpler, clearer and easier to apply.
The updated scheme will award travel vouchers, have a set application window, clear response timeframes, and eligibility criteria, making it simpler and easier for community groups, charities and event organisers to apply.
The scheme remains focused on supporting local events, charities and groups that enhance the quality of life of our residents and we’re proud to play our part in helping local organisations attend events, deliver services and strengthen our community.
What’s new:
● The introduction of travel vouchers, giving successful applicants the flexibility to book travel yourselves at a time that suits you.
● A set application window and response timeframe so you’ll know exactly when to apply and when to expect a decision, making planning easier and more predictable.
● Clear eligibility criteria has also been introduced, so you can quickly understand what support is available and what types of requests are most likely to be successful.
Application Process
To apply for Supported Travel, all applicants must fill in the online form (available here on Friday, March 13th), providing details of the event/initiative etc that travel is required for, how it benefits the community on the island, marketing, PR and social media promotional activities which include activities around the Steam Packet’s support, confirmed or approximate dates of travel, confirmed or approximate number of adult and child passengers, vehicle or foot passenger travel required, destination of travel, and contact information.
Applications for travel in 2026 are open from Friday, March 13th to Monday, April 13th. All applications will be reviewed by a panel of Steam Packet team members, with eligibility and the level of support awarded judged on the below criteria:
Applicants must be residents of the Isle of Man or,
Events, initiatives or projects must be based on the Isle of Man.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the application.
Applicants must propose a project, initiative, activity or event that contributes positively to the local community and aligns with the aims of the Scheme.
All applicants will be informed of a decision on Thursday, April 30th. Successful applicants will receive a travel voucher of a set value in line with the requirements of the travel, which can be collected from the Ferry Travel Shop.
Please note, applications for our Supported Sports Scheme and Fundraising Vouchers remain unchanged and applications are being processed as per the normal process of completing the online forms available here.
We welcome feedback about the updated process so we can continue to improve the MCA scheme.
We look forward to receiving your applications and continuing to support the fantastic work taking place across our community
