Power to Change opens Community Business Fund for Round Eight
Cash grants worth between £50,000 and £300,000 will be made to community businesses across England through the eighth round of Power to Change’s Community Business Fund.
To date, the fund has given grants worth over £26m to more than 140 community businesses across England. The North West has secured the biggest share of the cash (£5,020,000) and the South East has secured the least (£770,000), so the trust is particularly keen to hear from community businesses in the region.
From farms to libraries, canal moorings to cinemas, the Community Business Fund supports a wide range of community businesses, which all operate in a way that delivers positive social impact.
Alex Steeland, Programme Manager at Power to Change, said: “The Community Business Fund is designed to support existing community businesses to become more financially sustainable. This could be through increasing their trading income, securing an asset like a building, or reducing their costs. In previous rounds we have offered grants to cover refurbishment, vehicles, equipment, or staff costs and professional fees. We’re really keen to help with applications so we’ve organised webinars and a helpline to help give people the best chance of success.”
The fund will open on 11 September 2019 and community businesses will have until midday on 9 October 2019 to apply. Organisations are encouraged to read the guidance and FAQs for the fund before making an application and to sign up to the Power to Change newsletter to be kept informed as to when the online application form goes live. Grant awards will be made to the successful organisations from January 2020.
Power to Change will host a webinar on 12 September 2019 to give hopeful applicants an overview of the fund and its eligibility criteria. This is also a great opportunity for community businesses to ask any questions they might have about the application process. Register for the webinar here.
UMi, Power to Change’s grant administration partner for the Community Business Fund, can answer any questions applicants have about this fund either by phone 0300 1240444 or via email cbf@weareumi.co.uk. Further information is available at www.powertochange.org.uk/funding/grants/community-business-fund/.