Local causes that want to make a difference in their local community are being invited to apply for funding from the Co-op Group.
The organisation’s Local Community Fund has helped raise £20m for over 8,000 causes since launching in September 2016. This month, the Fund is opening for applications for the next round of funding – and this time wants more causes than ever to apply. Previously, only registered charities were eligible but the Group is now inviting applications from causes which bring people together through co-operation.
The Fund distributes the 1% raised by members buying Co-op own-branded products and services to causes in 1,500 local communities, grouped geographically around Co-op Food stores and Funeral Homes.
Applications are reviewed by the Group and the Charities Aid Foundation, and three are chosen for each community – then members located in that community can choose which one receives their 1%.
Members can choose which cause to support by logging into their membership account.
Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community engagement at the Group, said: “For the next round of funding we want to help our members make an even bigger difference in their local communities by opening for applications from a wider range of community and co-operative causes, encouraging co-operation and bringing people and communities together.”
- For more details, and to apply between 5 March and 8 April 2018, visit causes.coop.co.uk
