Apply for the Co-op Local Community Fund

We support projects that help make communities fairer for everyone. You can apply if you're a not-for profit group, wanting to fund a specific project that benefits your local community.

If your funding application is successful, we'll work with you for 12 months. The more members that shop with Co-op and choose to support your project, the more funding you will receive.

To apply for funding, you need to send your application by 11 June 2023.

Check if you can apply for funding

The information in this section will help you to decide whether to apply for funding. We know that different people use different words for community work. For this application process,

• the 'group' or 'cause' means your organisation
• the 'project' is the activity or specific work that you are applying to fund

You can apply if your project:

• brings people together to access food
• helps to improve people's mental wellbeing
• creates opportunities for young people to be heard and make a difference
• helps people to save and restore nature or tackle climate change

Your project must also:

• take place in the UK or Isle of Man
• take place or still be running after November 2024

To apply, your group needs to be:

• registered or based in the UK
• have their own bank account
• operating in your local community
• not-for-profit

Groups that can apply include:

• churches or chapels that are excepted charities (that means they do not need to register with the Charities Commission)
• co-operative societies
• community benefit societies
• Community Interest Companies
• credit unions
• registered charities in the UK or Isle of Man
• social enterprises
• Scout, Guide or Woodcraft Folk groups
• any other group that can prove that they are not-for-profit

We cannot fund projects that:

• support individuals
• support people or projects overseas
• promote any political activities or religious beliefs - but we can consider projects led by religious groups that are for the benefit of the whole community
• use all of the funds to cover staff salaries and running costs
• give our funding to other people or groups
• are the responsibility of local authorities
• could, in our opinion, harm the reputation of Co-op

Check how much funding is available in your local community

The amount of funding available in your local community depends on how many Co-op members shop with us.

To estimate how much funding you could receive, enter the postcode where your project will happen.