Coop Community Fund

Coop Community Fund

The Local Community Fund supports projects in their members’ communities that provide access to opportunities and resources to help people thrive.

Who can apply?

You can apply if your project helps people to thrive in one of the following ways:

  • enables people to access food

  • creates opportunities for young people

  • improves people’s mental wellbeing

  • promotes community cohesion

  • builds sustainable futures

  • Promotes and celebrates diversity and inclusion.

To apply, your group must:

  • be registered or based in the UK or Isle of Man

  • have its own bank account

  • deliver activity in your local community

  • be not-for-profit

You must also provide a Co-op membership number for one of the people making this application (non-members can join online or via the Co-op App).

Groups that can apply include:

  • Churches or Chapels that are excepted charities (that means they do not need to register with the Charities Commission)

  • Co-operative Societies

  • Community Benefit Societies

  • Community Interest Companies

  • Credit Unions

  • Registered Charities in the UK or Isle of Man

  • Social Enterprises

  • Scout, Guide or Woodcraft Folk groups

  • Any other group that can prove that they are not-for-profit

Restrictions

They cannot fund projects that:

  • support individuals

  • support people or projects overseas

  • promote any political activities or religious beliefs - but Coop can consider projects led by religious groups that are for the benefit of the whole community

  • use all of the funds to cover staff salaries and running costs

  • give their funding to other people or groups

  • are the responsibility of Local Authorities

  • could, in Coop’s opinion, harm the reputation of Co-op

Eligible Expenditure

See examples of eligible projects: https://www.coop.co.uk/lcfeligibility 

How to apply

What you need to apply

You'll need:

  • your group's charity number or registration details

or

  • your group's governing documents that show that you're not-for-profit. For example, your group's constitution or articles of association.

You'll also need:

  • your group's bank details- we cannot pay funding into an account that is not in the name of your group

  • a bank statement, dated within the last 3 months, in the name of your group

  • a description of your group and project

  • basic information about what your group does and annual income

  • a good photo (landscape, not portrait) that will help promote your project to Co-op Members

  • 2 contacts including phone and email details

  • Co-op Membership number. This is the 18-digit number on the back of your membership card or in your wallet on the App

What happens next?

You must apply by midnight on 6 July 2025.

Coop will assess all applications over the summer and email you in October 2025 about the outcome of your application.

If you're successful:

·         you'll be part of the Local Community Fund for 12 months from 19 October 2025 to 17 October 2026

·         your local cause will receive funds in November 2026

Useful Links

https://causes.coop.co.uk/?utm_source=vanity&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=LocalCommunityFund

Previous
Previous

The Alec Dickinson Trust Grant of up to £500

Next
Next

'She's a prime example of how nurses should be' | Meet the Health Hero for June