THE Channel Islands Co-operative Society has launched a new funding scheme dedicated to supporting community and environmental causes in the Channel Islands.

The new Co-op Community Fund replaces the two previous Society funds; Helping Hands and Eco Fund, bringing a new vitality and focus to the organisation’s role as a community retailer.

Launching on 12 April, the new funding scheme will run throughout the year giving charities, clubs, and community organisations a greater opportunity to share their community project. Successful applicants will receive donations from the fund during the two grant pay-outs per year. This year the grant pay-outs will take place in June and October.

The Society is welcoming applications from recognised local charities and community groups in the Channel Islands, including schools, groups, and associations. Projects must be based in either Jersey or Guernsey and focus on social or environmental initiatives in the Islands, such as supporting the next generation or elderly people, health and wellbeing, sustainability and fair trade, education, social inclusion, diversity and accessibility.

Mark Cox, CEO of the Society, said: ‘We are very excited to launch this new look Community Fund which gives us the ability to support causes and projects which really tie-in with the core values and vision of our Society. It also enables charities and organisations to apply for funding at any time of the year and the Co-op will be able to distribute charitable funds twice a year.’

‘Our Society is all about our members and our community. The Community Fund exists to support those people and causes that help make a real difference in our Islands, so that they can continue to do just that.’

The fund will remain open for applications year-round. Applications submitted by 12 May 2021 will be reviewed for the first funding pay-out in the following few weeks. Successful projects will then be contacted and receive their grant shortly after. This process will then be repeated later in the year for the next application review in October, with an application deadline of 30 September 2021.

More details on the Society’s new community fund can be found at: www.channelislands.coop/communityfund. Potential applicants are also able to contact the community and sustainability team at sustainability@channelislands.coop for further information.