East Of England Co-op Community Cares Fund

Charity Number: CUSTOM_36D0E783

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £110,000-£115,000 per funding round
  • Success Rate: Heavily oversubscribed (applications quadruple available funding)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 12-16 weeks
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000
  • Geographic Focus: Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire (within reasonable distance of Co-op stores/branches)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.eastofengland.coop/community/community-cares-fund

Application Process: Administered through regional Community Foundations:

  • Suffolk Community Foundation
  • Essex Community Foundation
  • Norfolk Community Foundation
  • Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

General Enquiries: Through the East of England Co-op community pages

Overview

The East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund was launched in April 2020 as part of the East of England Co-operative Society's commitment to invest profits back into local communities. Since its inception, the fund has distributed over £1 million in grants, supporting more than 146,000 people across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire. The average grant is £2,000, with awards ranging from £1,000 to £5,000. The fund focuses specifically on 'Community Cohesion and Integration' and operates through partnerships with local Community Foundations. Under the leadership of CEO Andy Rigby, who emphasizes that “We are not just a shop. We are far more: we are hubs in the communities we serve,” the Co-op continues to prioritize community investment as a core principle.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Cares Fund: £1,000 - £5,000

  • Grants awarded between £1,000 and £5,000 for projects addressing community cohesion and integration
  • Applications processed through online portals managed by regional Community Foundations
  • Rolling application process with funding rounds approximately annually
  • Fund may close early if oversubscribed
  • Recent rounds have distributed £110,000-£115,000 to 30-32 projects per round

Priority Areas

The fund specifically supports projects that:

  • Community Cohesion and Integration: Projects that help people play an active part in their local community to reduce barriers and inequalities and improve social contact and experiences
  • Food Access: Food-related projects with wider community activity (food banks with community engagement)
  • Health and Wellbeing: Mental health programmes, support for people with disabilities, dementia services
  • Environmental Projects: Community environmental initiatives
  • Youth Services: Activities and support for young people
  • Inclusive Employment: Supporting people facing barriers to employment
  • Social Isolation: Projects addressing loneliness and isolation, particularly for refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable groups

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital projects where they are not essential to day-to-day service delivery
  • Food-related projects without wider community activity components
  • Projects where the East of England Co-op funding represents less than 30% of total costs
  • Organizations outside Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire
  • Organizations not within reasonable distance of an East of England Co-op store or branch (Norfolk applications must be within 5km)
  • Re-applications in consecutive years from previously successful applicants
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Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

  • Andy Rigby, Chief Executive Officer (appointed CEO December 2024, joined 2022): "We've got to make a profit before we can make a difference."
  • Joy Burnford, President: Emphasized the society's journey “to make a bigger difference in our communities”
  • Douglas Field, former Chief Executive: Stated "Inclusive Employment is not just a checkbox for us; it's a fundamental principle we uphold"

Decision-Making

Decisions are made by a panel of East of England Co-op staff members in partnership with the regional Community Foundations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Complete the online application form for your county
  2. Applications may close early if oversubscribed

Decision Timeline

  • Applications reviewed by panel of East of England Co-op staff members
  • Decisions typically made approximately 12-16 weeks after application deadline
  • Recent rounds have announced decisions in February
  • Successful applicants notified and publicly announced
  • Unsuccessful applicants notified and may be signposted to alternative funding sources

Success Rates

The fund is heavily oversubscribed with very competitive selection:

  • Recent rounds received applications quadrupling the available funding
  • Approximately 30-32 projects funded per round from a much larger pool
  • Success rate estimated at 20-30% based on oversubscription rates
  • Those unsuccessful may be signposted to other potential funds or organizations that can help them become 'grant ready'

Reapplication Policy

For Previously Successful Applicants: Cannot re-apply in consecutive years. Must wait at least 12 months after submitting the end-of-grant report before reapplying.

For Unsuccessful Applicants: May be encouraged to apply to the next funding round or signposted to alternative funding sources depending on rejection reason.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

Based on feedback from Community Foundation partners and previous rounds:

  • Capital projects are lower priority unless essential to day-to-day service delivery
  • Food-related projects must include wider community activity - not just food distribution alone
  • Volunteer engagement is important - applications include questions about volunteer involvement, and this is considered in decision-making
  • The Co-op must fund 30% or more of total project costs - applications below this threshold will not be considered
  • Geographic proximity matters - must be within reasonable distance of Co-op stores/branches (Norfolk requires within 5km)

Recently Funded Projects (2024 Examples)

  • Braintree District Mencap CIO: Weekly cooking classes for adults with learning disabilities
  • Bridgeway Mission (Colchester): Community hub for refugees and asylum seekers addressing loneliness and isolation
  • Colchester Bike Kitchen CIC: Supporting economically deprived people with bicycle repair access
  • Hope After Suicide Loss (HOPE): £3,000+ for comprehensive support for those bereaved by suicide in Suffolk and Norfolk
  • Cam Sight (Cambridgeshire): £2,200 for weekly Pilates sessions for blind or partially sighted individuals
  • Heathlands PTA (Essex): £5,000 for innovation centre for creativity and hands-on learning
  • Norwich City Community Sports Foundation: £5,000 for weekly sessions supporting those living with dementia

Key Language and Terminology

  • Emphasize “community cohesion and integration” throughout your application
  • Focus on helping people “play an active part in their local community”
  • Address how your project will “reduce barriers and inequalities”
  • Highlight improvements to “social contact and experiences”
  • Demonstrate wider community impact beyond single-issue solutions

Standing Out

  • Show strong volunteer engagement and community participation
  • Demonstrate the project is essential to your organization's service delivery (especially for capital projects)
  • Include wider community activities alongside any food provision
  • Ensure the Co-op's contribution represents at least 30% of project costs
  • Be prepared to participate in marketing activities if successful
  • Apply early as the fund may close before the advertised deadline if oversubscribed

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Competition is fierce - Applications quadruple available funding, so applications must be exceptionally well-aligned with the “Community Cohesion and Integration” theme to stand out.
  1. Geographic proximity is essential - Projects must be within reasonable distance of East of England Co-op stores or branches, with Norfolk requiring location within 5km. Check the Co-op's store locations before applying.
  1. The 30% rule is non-negotiable - The Co-op must fund at least 30% of total project costs. Structure your budget accordingly or don't apply.
  1. Volunteer engagement matters - Include detailed information about volunteer involvement as this is specifically considered in decision-making.
  1. Apply early - The fund closes when oversubscribed, which happens regularly. Don't wait until the deadline.
  1. Food projects need more - If your project involves food provision, ensure you include significant wider community activities beyond just distribution.
  1. Be marketing-ready - Successful applicants must participate in public announcements and marketing activities, so be prepared for this visibility.

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