funds and foundations
supporting local groups through community investment and development
Supporting local communities is a crucial role for co-operatives and is at the heart of our activities and our co-operative heritage. Community groups and co-operatives can apply for support through one of the following initiatives:
Community Support
Community Fund
Over the past 10 years our members have donated more than £8m to The Co-operative Community Fund, allowing hundreds of local groups, projects, community groups, self-help organisations and charities nationwide to benefit. Funding goes to projects that demonstrate benefits to their local community, have a charitable purpose, and are in line with The Group’s values and principles.
In 2008 alone we gave away around £1.2 million in donations to 1,515 groups across the UK.
Find out more about the Community Fund.
The Co-operative Foundation
The Co-operative Foundation is an independent charitable trust set up in 2000 by The Co-operative Group's former-United region. It makes grants to charitable organisations and community groups to help them find co-operative solutions to community challenges. The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting locally led and run groups that can demonstrate co-operative values and principles, such as self-help, equality, democracy and concern for the community. Since its launch, the Foundation has made 600 awards, totalling nearly £4 million.
More about The Co-operative Foundation.
Co-operative Support
The Co-operative Enterprise Hub
The Co-operative Enterprise Hub is home to our co-operative support programmes. These programmes are in place to help support new and existing co-operative enterprises with advice, training and grants. Loans to support co-operative enterprises in communities throughout the country are also available through the Co-operative Loan Fund, managed by a team of experienced financial advisers. Find out more about The Co-operative Enterprise Hub.