East of England Co-op offers £100k to local community groups

Local community groups and charities in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are being encouraged to apply for a share of £100,000 on offer from the East of England Co-op.

Grants from between £1,000 and £5,000 from the East of England Co-op's Community Cares Fund are available to local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations that deliver projects supporting community action, food justice or mental health and wellbeing. 

The fund, which opened for applications on Monday 30 May, was launched by the retailer in 2020 to support groups that create services or activities that have a positive impact in their local community. To date, the East of England Co-op has so far given away over £200,000, supporting more than 82,000 people.

Commenting on the launch of the fund, East of England Co-op Community Development Manager, Kat Reading, said: "As a co-operative we're committed to supporting our local communities and helping them to thrive. Our previous funding rounds have been extremely popular so we know times are incredibly challenging at the moment for community groups and the local people they support, but it is these small organisations that have the biggest impact. 

"Thanks to the generous support of our members, who have kindly donated their dividend points along with cash donations, we're able to support even more fantastic projects across the region."

The East of England Co-op's Community Cares Fund is delivered in partnership with the Suffolk Community Foundation, Norfolk Community Foundation and the Essex Community Foundation. The latest round for applications will be open for four weeks and closes on 24 June. 

To apply, visit www.eastofengland.coop/community/community-cares-fund.