Yes, you are right, this is a Sponsored Post. However, read on because this is one you need to hear about. Recently I've been telling you all about funding opportunities for community projects in your local area, well this is another one! The Cooperative Membership Fund is a grant scheme, which helps local communities throughout the UK. Thousands of clubs, community groups and local charities have benefited.
The scheme is funded by generous members of The Co-operative donating some of their share of profits, which is then given away in the form of small grants. This year, The Co-operative Members have donated £1.2 million to local community groups across the country. To qualify for a grant projects must address a community issue, provide long term benefit to the community, support co-operative values and principles & be innovative
The Co-operative has real values and true commitments, not just empty corporate mission statements. When we claim something, it's true. When we commit to change, we make it happen.
There are some great stories happening in local communities and The Co-operative supports those stories and helps them to happen.
This campaign really demonstrates the core co-operative values of giving back to the communities that they serve.
What is The Co-operative Community Fund?
The fund is made up of donations from our members who have chosen to give a percentage of their twice-yearly share of the profits. This year The Co-operative Members have donated £1.2 million to local community groups across the country
The Community Fund is a registered charity and is governed by The Co-operative Community Investment Fund (CCIF). This board of trustees are responsible for ensuring funds to projects are given in line with the Charities Commission guidelines.
The Co-operative Community Fund operates on a truly local level. The money each region has to give is the money that members have donated in their area. Projects are allocated by postcode.
Grants vary from a minimum of £100 to a maximum of £2,000.
Groups have to apply for the funding they can do this here.
- To be successful a group must:
* Carry out positive work in the community (it does not have to have charitable status to apply)
And the project must:
* Address a community issue
* Provide a long-term benefit to the community
* Support co-operative values and principles
* Ideally be innovative in its approach
So, from my experience of community projects I think that there are a lot of things that could be done here and it sounds to me like a grant that could be worth applying for. Here are some ideas which you might like to use:
Photography
In the image one of the successful projects was a photographic project and exhibition. This leads to endless possibilities, you could work with a local photography club to help its members train young people to use cameras properly with a view to recording an area for posterity. One of the best projects recently for us in the museum was where a local group got some funding to take a photograph of every house in a particular series of streets during a year. This has proved a really valuable social history project and has longevity in that the images will be incredibly useful to historians of the future.
Environment
Cleaning up local play areas and tree planting initiatives are always a great local project, but have you ever considered re-instating hedgerows? Local members of my residents association are currently doing this is our area with fantastic effect as its really increasing biodiversity and improving the area.
Young People
How about establishing a local playgroup or toy library if you don't have one? A small amount of money could help to pay for some toys and provide a much needed start up. These opportunities can be invaluable for the local community.
So, again a few more ideas. I hope they have provided some inspiration. If you have the time and inclination its really worth thinking about these smaller grants, with current local government cuts there will be far less opportunity for your local council to do all the things they do nowadays and community work will become invaluable.
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