Cash on offer for community groups

Community groups in Sunderland are being offered the chance to apply for cash to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

In response to the crisis, the Co-op – which has supported 82 causes in the city with £233,700 over the past three years – is targeting its funding at organisations that are working towards community wellbeing.

The application period is now open for Local Community Fund applications and the Co-op is looking for projects that are supporting essential services – foodbanks, green space projects, schemes to improve mental and physical wellbeing and projects to improve community resilience.

Groups involved in any of these activities are being urged to apply for an average grant of almost £5,000.

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.”

For information about applying for the fund, visit causes.coop.co.uk The closing date is June 28.