Community businesses in Plymouth invited to apply for share of £2.5m fund

Community businesses in Plymouth are being offered the chance to grow and develop - with the help of a national £2.5 million funding pot.

From 11 September 2018 projects across the city can apply for their share of The Community Business Fund, provided by independent trust Power to Change.

The fund offers grants of between £50,000 and £300,000 to English businesses ‘trading for the benefit of, and accountable to, their local communities’. Any successful applicants will receive their investment in early 2019.

Plymouth is one of ten UK places identified by Power to Change as most likely to benefit from the input of community businesses and they are particularly keen to hear from groups based in the city.

Applications close at midday on 9 October 2018 and Power to Change will be hosting a webinar to help hopeful applicants find out more about the fund and eligibility criteria on 13 September. Community businesses can register for the webinar here.

The fund has already helped more than 90 organisations, including farms, libraries, canal moorings and cinemas, to become financially sustainable and deliver social impact.

Speaking about the funding, Colette Harvey, Programme Manager at Power to Change, added: “Community businesses are doing exceptional work, delivering more cohesive local communities and a stronger civil society.

“We’re very excited to be making a further £2.5m available to community businesses, with the aim of supporting 15 more organisations through this next round of funding.

“We look forward to receiving a broad range of applications from a wide variety of places and sectors.”

More guidance on applications is available here, and applicants are encouraged to sign up to the Power to Change newsletter for updates. Further rounds of the Community Business Fund will open next year.

BE Group, Power to Change’s grant partner for the Community Business Fund, can also answer applicants’ questions via 0300 1240444 or email cbf@be-group.co.uk/webchat

https://www.powertochange.org.uk/funding/grants/community-business-fund/.