[WiLT] Co-operative Foundation - Community Support Programme (north of England, Ireland and Wales) 7th Sept

[WiL Admin]

Co-operative Foundation - Community Support Programme

The Co-operative Foundation is an independent charitable trust set up
in 2000. The Foundation is solely funded by United Co-operatives which
has trading interests within the North West, South Cumbria, Yorkshire,
North Midlands, Northern Ireland and North Wales. As the Foundation is
considerably over-subscribed, the Trustees will only fund applications
from within the trading area.

United Co-operatives has donated nearly £7 million to the Foundation
to be invested to generate income to support the Foundation's grant
making programme. The Foundation is in its early years as a grant
making body and has limited income to satisfy the growing number of
applications it receives.

The Co-operative Foundation is keen to support community and voluntary
sector activity through grants to local groups and organisations
across its trading area. It is particular interested in locally led
and run groups which can demonstrate evidence of co-operative values
and principles: self-help, equality, democracy, concern for the
community.

In support of this community-led approach the Foundation has one
focussed grant-making programme, the Community Support Programme, for
community based groups.

Grants between the values of £500 and £30,000.

One-year projects - for either part or total funding.

Capital costs - these are the costs of tangible and lasting items such
as buildings or equipment. If you are applying for capital equipment
then the cost should be based on the quote of at least two suppliers.
These quotes must be included with your application.

Revenue costs - these are the costs of running of your project.
Typical revenue costs include rent, maintenance, training and
utilities. Please note that salaries are not being funded.

This programme was developed to help groups who want to make a
difference in their own communities, through grass roots community
activity. The community can be geographically-based, such as a
village, town or housing estate, or could be a community of people
brought together to address a specific issue.

Examples of work we may fund under the Community Support Programme
include:
* Activities that encourage people to work with others who have
similar needs or face similar challenges, including the development of
community groups;
* Work that aims to resolve or reduce conflict, such as community
mediation or the reduction of harassment; The setting up or
development of community safety schemes;
* Provision and improvement of community facilities that allow
premises and equipment to be shared between organisations;
* Work to assist people, who would not otherwise have the opportunity,
to gain access to IT equipment, training or support;
* Development of out-reach work to offer services to the most
vulnerable in society; Improvement of access to information, advice
and advocacy services that enable people to make informed choices
about their lives or lifestyle;
* Work which supports that undertaken by volunteers;
* Work with communities with significant needs such as minority
groups, people with disabilities and their carers, or those with
special needs, mental health problems and learning disabilities.

The Foundation receives many more applications than it can support, so
in order to ensure the Foundation's grant-making programme is
effective and reaching our funding priorities, objectives and
assessment criteria have been established. Read all guidelines and
criteria before making your application.

Remaining closing dates for receipt of applications this year are:
7 September 2007 and 1 December 2007.

For full details and application process see How and when to apply at
http://www.co-operative.co.uk/en/foundation/howandwhentoapply

The Charity Manager, THE CO-OPERATIVE FOUNDATION, United
Co-operatives, Sandbrook Park, Sandbrook Way, Rochdale OL11 1RY
Tel: 01706 202032
Email: foundation at coop.co.uk

Posted on WiLT blog at
http://www.freecharity.org.uk/~womeninlondon/?p=395