Co-op Community Fund - 29 May deadline

Grants are available for small, locally based voluntary and community groups to support projects which benefit local communities around Co-op food stores and funeral homes across the UK or the Isle of Man.

Current Status
Open for Applications
Maximum value:
Discretionary
Objectives of Fund
The funding aims to help communities to come together, co-operate and have a positive impact on community wellbeing – physically and virtually.

Grants are determined by Co-op community members who vote on the project they wish to support in their local community.

The more members that select a project and shop with Co-op, the more funding the project will receive. Applicants are encouraged to promote their project online, on social media and in their community.

Value Notes
The more Co-op members that support the project and shop at Co-op, the more money groups will receive.

In most areas, this is between £1,000 and £3,000 on average. Successful groups will receive a minimum of £1,000 to support their projects.

Up to 3 projects in each community will be chosen.

Funding will be granted in November 2023.

Who Can Apply
Applications will be accepted from:

UK registered charities.
Scout, Guide or Woodcraft folk groups.
Registered community amateur sports clubs (CASCs).
Churches or chapels that are ‘excepted’ charities.
Co-operative societies.
Credit unions.
Community benefit societies.
Community interest companies.
Any other organisation that can prove they are not run for profit.
To be eligible, groups or activities must:

Make good things happen in their area.
Be not-for-profit (unless they are helping people stay connected during coronavirus/Covid-19).
Be locally run.
Follow government guidelines on social distancing.
Priority will be given to organisations with an income of less than £1 million a year.

Restrictions
Funding is not available for the following:

Projects that support individuals or overseas projects.
Projects that promote any political activities or causes.
Projects that promote any religious beliefs. (Consideration will be given to projects led by religious organisations that are for the benefit of the whole community.)
Only pay for salaries or other running costs of an organisation.
Funding that will be given to other people or organisations.
Projects that are the responsibility of a local authority.
Donations to other organisations.
Projects that could harm the reputation of Co-op.
Eligible Expenditure
Funding is available for projects which benefit local communities centred around Co-op food stores and funeral homes.

The funding is for projects that:

Enable people to access food and co-operate together to feed everyone.
Help improve people’s mental wellbeing.
Offer young people opportunities to develop new skills and make a difference in their community.
Help people protect local biodiversity or tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions.
The money can be used to pay staff salaries or the project’s running costs. For example, payment to a professional to give local children mental health awareness training.

Projects must:

Take place in the UK or Isle of Man
Not have religious or political aims (although religious groups can apply)
Meet the Co-op’s values
Take place or will still be running after November 2023.
Benefit their local community.
Co-operatives values are: self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. (In the tradition of their founders, Co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.)

Full details at the link below.

For more information visit https://causes.coop.co.uk/