The ASDA Foundation has launched a range of well targeted grant programmes over the last few years in response to specific needs across the UK, including Under 18s Better Start Grants, Empowering Local Communities and Investing in People and Places.

The Foundation’s latest programme is in response to the Cost-of-Living crisis and offers grants of between £500 and £2,000 to local community organisations whose services are being adversely affected. The Cost of Living grant scheme is particularly focused on helping with organisational running costs between September 2022 and February 2023.  The programme has two main priorities:

1. Funding to cover rent and utility costs, especially where this relates to 'Warm Banks' where groups are aiming to keep their facilities open for longer to provide local people with a warm, safe place to be rather than heating their homes or living in a cold property (for example, drop in and day centres), and
2. Funding food for community cafes, food parcels, delivered meals, soup kitchens, etc.
 
UK-based local not-for-profit community groups may apply for a grant of between £500 and £2,000, providing they meet the following criteria:

o Beneficiaries must be groups of people in a local community.
o The applying organisations must have a presence in the local community, and
o The applying organisation must provide services that benefit the local community.

Please note that new groups can apply to the fund: the Foundation has not stated a minimum or maximum amount of time a group must have been active in order to be eligible to apply.

Funding is not available for:

o Buying alcohol.
o Day trips, excursions or travel/transport.
o Groups based outside the UK.
o Groups whose main purpose is to benefit animals.
o Individuals.
o Insurances.
o Membership schemes.
o Ongoing salary costs.
o Promotional work.
o Raffle prizes.
o Restaurant meals.
o Storage costs.
o Third party grant-making organisations.
o Transport costs.
o Volunteer-only celebration events, or
o Voucher schemes.

The programme is being managed by the Community Champion in each ASDA store. The Community Champion should be contacted for an application form. A map showing the location of each ASDA store can be found on ASDA's website).

Further information and guidance about the programme is available on the Foundation’s website and via the local ASDA Community Champions.

The scheme will run until Wednesday 1st February 2023 or as soon as the available budget has been committed, whichever is the sooner. Early application is therefore advised.

Applications should be submitted at least 6 weeks before activities are due to begin to give enough processing time and should include:

o Bank statement/paying in slip.
o Confirmation that the group is a not-for-profit organisation, particularly isf they’re not a registered charity.
o Digital signature declaration (for applicants not proving a handwritten signature), and
o Group documents (for example, constitution, rules, etc).