New emergency grants for community businesses

News item

Published

7th May 2020

Last updated

29th October 2020

Topic

Covid-19

Today, Power to Change has announced a new £5 million scheme, which aims to help community businesses facing a loss of trading income in light of the Covid-19 crisis.

Co‑operatives UK has helped to develop the Covid‑19 Emergency Trading Income Support Scheme, which makes grants of up to £25,000 available to community businesses who are members of Co‑operatives UK, Locality or Plunkett Foundation – or who have received an investment from Power to Change in the past.

We’re delighted to be involved in shaping this emergency funding for our community business members, who can apply for a contribution to replace lost trading income due to the pandemic. The scheme is likely to be highly competitive so we urge our members to act quickly as the first funding round will close once 150 applications have been submitted.

– James de le Vingne, Head of Development Unit, Co-operatives UK

But there’s plenty of time to thoroughly read through the guidance before the scheme opens for applications in two rounds in May.

Round 1 opens for applications at 10am on 12 May. The round will close when it reaches 150 applications. Around £3 million will be awarded to around 150 community businesses.
Round 2 opens for applications at 10am on 19 May. Around £2 million will be awarded to around 100 community businesses.

Co-operatives UK will email our eligible community businesses members with a link to the pre‑application form the day before each round opens (11 May and 18 May).

A free webinar takes place at 11am on 6 May for anyone interested in finding out more about the scheme and the application process. There are also some Frequently Asked Questions on the Power to Change website.

Find out more about about the Covid-19 Emergency Trading Income Support Scheme.

See the Power to Change website