News from: Reading Voluntary Action (RVA)
Co-op Group’s Local Community Fund has supported over 30,000 local community projects across the UK since its launch in 2016, and charities and organisations, that play a vital role in the well-being of communities, can now apply to be considered for the next round of funding.
The Group says its support comes at “a much-needed time”, with insight from community causes across the UK showing that 84% of local groups have seen a jump in demand for their services through the cost-of-living crisis.
You can apply if your project:
-Brings people together to access food
-Helps 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
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
How much can you apply for?
-The more Co-op members that support your project and shop with them, the more money you will receive.
-In most areas, this is between £1,000 and £3,000 on average. You will get a minimum of £1,000 to support your project.
-Every time one of the Co-op members shops in-store 1% of their spend is donated to their chosen charity. Charities will receive 2 payments throughout the year.
What you need to apply
You will need either:
-Your group’s charity or equivalent registration number depending on the type of group
or
-A constitutional document that sets out your group’s rules and proves that you are not run for private profit
You’ll also need:
-Your group’s bank details – money from the fund cannot be paid into personal accounts
-A bank statement for your group
-A description of your project
-2 contact names, including email addresses
-Basic details of your group and what it does, including approximate annual income
-A good quality photo showing your group in action – no logos
Deadline for applications and how to apply:
-You must apply by midnight on 11 June 2023
-You will find whether your application has been successful or not by email in October 2023
-Application can be submitted using the online Application Form
Further information and support:
-For more information please see the fund page at: https://causes.coop.co.uk, or the Local Community Fund terms and conditions, for information about the funding criteria.
-If you would like further support with submitting a funding application or any support to get ready for this funding, please contact advice@rva.org.uk or telephone 0118 937 2273 for free and independent support and advice.