Community fund open for charity applications

The local Police Scotland Youth Volunteer is a previous recipient of support from the community fund.

The company has opened applications for its Local Community Fund and is looking for local causes to apply.

Over the past six years Co-op has supported local groups to the tune of £215,898.24 and organisations now have the opportunity to apply for funding via coop.co.uk/causes.

The fund is continuing to support organisations that are involved in providing access to food, helping to improve mental well-being or providing opportunities for young people and, for the first time, causes that are working to protect local biodiversity or tackle climate change.

Applications can be received up until May 29.

When Co-op Members buy selected Co-op products and services from Co-op, 2p for every £1 spent goes into their Co-op Membership account. The same amount is then given to support national community organisations through the Community Partnership Fund and local causes via the Local Community Fund.

Members can choose the causes they wish to support and, with the help of Co-op’s Community Well-being Index, go online to compare their community with 28,000 others across the UK.

Rebecca Birkbeck, community and membership director, said: “Since the Local Community Fund began, we have raised an amazing £85m for grassroots causes, as a direct result from the support of our members.

“Also, by applying for the Local Community Fund, groups will join our online community centre, Co-operate, which can help them find additional resources, as well as further donations, making this not just a fund, but a partnership.

“Even if a funding application is not successful, the group will still be a part of a network of over 12,000 groups on Co-operate.

“And for the first time I’m so pleased to announce that we have extended the criteria to include causes that are particularly dedicated to helping tackle biodiversity and carbon reduction, from local community gardens to small scale renewable energy schemes.”

Causes wanting more information about applying for the next round of the Co-op’s Local Community Fund should visit coop.co.uk/causes and applications close on May 29 .