The Co-op Local Community Fund provides small revenue grants for projects that benefit local communities centred around Co-op food stores and funeral homes across the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.
This is a public voting grant programme, whereby Co-op community members vote on the project they want to support in their local community. Projects should be in communities that are served by a Co-op Food store or a Co-op Funeral Home. Up to 3 projects in each community will be selected for grant support. Priority will be given to organisations with an income of under £1 million a year.
A Co-op store locator can be accessed at this LINK, while you can find Co-op Funeral Care locations HERE (Co-op Funeral Homes is the UK's largest funeral service provider, with over 1,000 outlets nationally).
Please note that, although the deadline for applications is Sunday 11th June 2023 and successful applicants will be announced in October 2023, the public voting process takes 12 months, meaning that funding will only be released in November 2024. Applicants should therefore align their project proposal with this timescale.
Grants, which can be used to cover project costs or salaries, are expected to be for between £1,000 and £3,000 for projects that:
o Enable people to access food and co-operate together to feed everyone.
o Help improve people’s mental wellbeing.
o Help people protect local biodiversity or tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions, and/or
o Offer young people opportunities to develop new skills and make a difference in their community.
Projects should:
o Benefit a local community in which the Co-op has a presence.
o Meet the Co-op’s values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.
o Not have religious or political aims (although religious groups can apply).
o Take place in the UK or Isle of Man, and
o Take place or will still be running after November 2024.
Funding is not available for:
o Donations to other organisations.
o Funding that will be given to other people or organisations.
o Only pay for salaries or other running costs of an organisation.
o Projects that are the responsibility of a local authority.
o Projects that could harm the reputation of Co-op.
o Projects that promote any political activities or causes.
o 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.), or
o Projects that support individuals or overseas projects.
The application process is as follows:
1. Applicants should create an account on the Co-op website.
2. Applications must be submitted by midnight on Sunday 11th June 2023.
3. The Co-op will then shortlist up to 3 projects to support in each community over the next giving period. This is usually for the next 12 months.
4. Applicants will find out if they’ve been shortlisted by October 2023. Shortlisted projects will be part of the Local Community Fund from late October 2023 to late October 2024.
5. Selected projects will be displayed in store and online in order that Co-op members can vote for which project they want to support.
7. Applicants will receive funding in November 2024.
Further information, guidance and details about how to apply is available on the Co-op website.
