Co-op funds causes that support wellbeing during coronavirus pandemic

The Co-op is looking for projects that are supporting access to essential services, for example foodbanks or green spaces, improving mental and physical wellbeing or building community resilience.

Groups involved in any of these activities are being urged to apply to be a beneficiary of the Local Community Fund which paid out an average of almost £5,000 to 4,500 causes across the UK last year.

Sixty-nine causes in Buxton have benefited from a total of £159,000 from the fund in the last three years.

Co-op members, who receive a personal reward for themselves with one per cent of what they spend on Co-op own label products and services going to local causes, have a say in how the money is allocated.

Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community and shared value, at the Co-op, said: “The Co-op Local Community Fund supports grassroots projects across the UK that our members care about. We want to help communities to come together, co-operate and have a positive impact on community wellbeing – physically and virtually.

“I would urge any group that feels it fits our criteria to apply for funding. We know they need a funding boost now more than ever.”

The Co-op’s Community Wellbeing Index enables people to go online and compare their community with 28,000 others across the UK. By entering a postcode the Index will reveal a community’s overall well-being score and indicate its performance across nine specific areas including: education; health and community spaces - https://communitywellbeing.coop.co.uk/Causes wanting more information about applying for the next round of the Co-op’s Local Community Fund should visit causes.coop.co.uk. The closing date for applications is June 28, 2020.

The business has launched an online community centre (https://co-operate.coop.co.uk/support) which connects communities to support initiatives and to volunteers who are willing to run virtual events such as exercise classes, music groups or art classes.