Booster Fund – application guidance
Are you an existing community business in England? Looking for help with your community share offer?
The Booster Fund provides support to get your share offer ready. We (Co-operatives UK) can also invest in your share offer by matching investments from your community!
Community shares are a great way for communities to pull together and take ownership of local buildings and land, or to develop new projects or services that benefit people in their community.
This guidance will help you decide whether the Booster Fund is right for your community business and your project.
Application deadlines
You can apply any time and Booster panels meet monthly.
2025
- 5th March panel (submissions by 12 February - Grant and Equity)
- 27 March panel (submissions by 6 March - Grant and Equity)
Pre-grant support and development grants are administered by Co-operatives UK.
Equity investment is made through Co-operatives UK or our partner Community Shares ICOF (which is managed by Co-operative and Community Finance). It may be possible for both organisations to invest. To simplify things, you only need to submit one Equity application to Booster and we will contact you after applying to discuss investment options from each partner.
Timescales - while there is a finite pot of support available, we are working with our Funders to secure additional resources further into 2025, We encourage you to get in touch when you feel ready.
Who is behind the Booster Fund?
The Booster Fund is delivered in partnership by Co-operatives UK, Locality, Plunkett Foundation, and Co-operative and Community Finance.
It is funded by Power to Change and the Architectural Heritage Fund. The Architectural Heritage Fund is ring fenced for heritage projects that play an important role in high street revival and the economic resilience of an area.
