Community
Using what we learn to become a better funder
We learned lots about how young people tackle youth loneliness and improve mental wellbeing as part of our Building Connections Fund.
Staying social despite the distance
Community spaces lie at the heart of local areas. They provide a place for people to connect, co-operate and develop support networks.
This is why, in 2019, the Co-op Foundation launched ‘Space to Connect’ – a £1.6m partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to fund organisations that wanted to improve and protect local spaces and reduce social isolation. It ran between until 2021 and supported 57 community organisations. Projects ranged from community trusts to youth clubs, arts centres, and city farms.
Guest blog – Funding Refugee Action
Read how Refugee Action are using our £250k unrestricted funding to improve the lives of refugees in the UK.
Helping our partners survive and thrive during Covid
Ella tells us about how our Community Loans grants have helped partners survive and thrive through Lockdown.
Helping communities do what mattered most
Community groups funded through our Space to Connect partnership with government were listening to how their communities wanted to use spaces when the pandemic hit. Lockdown presented opportunities and challenges for us to learn from.
Apply by 31 December for interest-free loans to support community spaces – fund now paused
Apply by 31 December 2019 if your community space could benefit from an interest-free loan designed to boost your financial sustainability.
We’ve awarded almost £900,000 to help local communities identify or improve a space to connect
Blog: We are awarding almost £900,000 to help 58 organisations make better use of spaces in their community, through our Space to Connect partnership with government.
Invitation to tender now open to become our ‘Space to Connect’ Learning and Evaluation partner
We’re inviting organisations to tender for a contract that will help us learn how to maximise community spaces to tackle loneliness and build connections.
Funding alert: We launch Space to Connect – our new £1.6 million partnership with government
Blog: New funding to help community organisations identify, improve and protect spaces where people can connect and co-operate is now open for applications.
New funding for community spaces launching soon
Blog: We’re working with government to develop a new £1.6 million initiative to help maximise the potential of spaces where people can connect and co-operate.
Could you help environmental community groups succeed?
Blog: Two grants of up to £50,000 are available for projects that build the capacity of community-led environmental groups in Wales and northern England.
Get ready to grow – funding available to boost enterprising ideas that improve community spaces (Wales only)
Blog: Today, we open new funding to help enterprising community organisations across Wales that benefit local people and the environment grow their sustainable income.
We’ve secured an additional £1.5 million Government funding for the Building Connections Fund Youth strand
Blog: Earlier this year, we announced a new £2m partnership with Government to fund projects looking to expand or enhance their work tackling youth loneliness – the Building Connections Fund Youth strand.
Community spaces are everybody’s business
Blog: We’re offering interest-free loans for enterprising ideas to improve community spaces.