Our projects
Community Shares Booster
Supporting your community share issue
The Booster Fund supports new and existing community businesses in England that are at all stages of a community share issue.
This includes the very early stages of exploring whether it’s the right choice, through planning a community share issue to being ready to launch, or in exceptional cases, recently launched.
The programme is funded by Power to Change and Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, and is delivered by Coops UK, Locality, Plunkett Foundation and Co-operative and Community Finance.
What’s on offer?
Development grants of up to £5,000
Match equity investment scheme
Pound for pound up to £25,000 in funds
Who can apply?
We welcome all expressions of interest from new and existing community businesses. We also have some priorities including:
Disadvantaged, less affluent and under-represented communities, particularly minoritised ethnicities, young people and communities facing systemic inequality
Projects that meet critical needs of their communities – we are particularly interested in project that address climate change issues and digital inclusion
For full eligibility criteria, visit Co-operatives UK.
What can you apply for?
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- Development grants – averaging £5,000, to prepare a community share offer: financial planning, governance support, marketing costs and being awarded the Community Shares Standard Mark.
- Equity match investment – typically matching £1 for £1 up to £25,000 invested by the Booster Fund, providing the minimum share offer target is achieved.