Co-op Community Cares Fund

Fund criteria

Projects must be within a reasonable distance from one or more of East of England Co-op’s stores or branches, meaning that recipients are likely to be aware of or use their services. If the fund is oversubscribed, priority will be given to projects delivering benefit nearest to the stores. To find out where your nearest East of England Co-op food store, travel branch or funeral branch is, please view their store locator. Select the option for ‘All branches’.

You cannot re-apply to this fund in consecutive years. If you’ve received a grant from the fund previously, at least 12 months must have passed since your last end of grant report was received, for you to be able to re-apply.

We will only consider applications where the East of England Co-op are funding 30% or more of costs.

Applications must address how the project is supporting community cohesion and integration – supporting people to play an active part in our communities to reduce barriers and inequalities, as well as improving social contact and experiences. The project should have the aim of achieving one or more of the following outcomes:

• Improved access to social activities for all
• Reduction in feelings of isolation and improved wellbeing
• Supporting people into education or employment
• Providing Information, advice or guidance to maximise income
• Evidence of working in partnership or alliance formation

Awards may be given either for existing services or facilities, or new initiatives and projects. A new project that brings people together will be considered where the funding could enable the project to move forward.

Please be aware that there is £10,000 allocated for each round of this fund. This fund offers grants of up to £5,000 for projects supporting people to play an active part in our communities, reducing barriers and improving social contact