Birmingham Community Foundation: Helping you to help Birmingham and the Black Country

Apply for Grants

Round 2 has now closed, but there will be another round taking place later in the year.

As you are required to be a Midcounties Co-operative member to apply for a grant then please apply for membership now so that you will be eligible to apply to Round 3.

Background to the fund:

The Midcounties Co-operative has over 350,000 members and more than 9,000 colleagues making it one of the UK’s largest independent retailers. Our purpose is to work towards a better, fairer world, enhancing the lives of our colleagues, members and customers and the communities we serve. We believe in:

Democracy – ensuring the views of our membership are reflected in the way we run The Midcounties Co-operative
Openness – being open and honest and fair in our dealings with everyone we come into contact with
Equality – recognising the contribution that everyone can make in developing The Midcounties Co-operative
Social Responsibility – reflecting our responsibilities to the wider community in the way we conduct our business

Criteria for Round 2:

The Midcounties Co-operative Community Fund (MCCF) is for the benefit of communities where The Midcounties Co-operative trades. You can see where our stores are located by clicking here

MCCF welcome applications from all Community and Voluntary groups that are working in their communities and have a particular interest to hear from projects that are supporting people to build their skills and raise aspirations.

Birmingham & Black Country Community Foundation (BBCCF) is administering this fund in the Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton) but there are other areas taking part (please view map for other trading locales).

NB: BBCCF are also administering this fund within a 3 mile radius of The Midcounties Co-operative stores in Warwickshire (view map for details)

Who can apply?

To apply for funding the *applicant (individual submitting the form) must be a member of The Midcounties Co-operative and membership should have been in place for at least three months prior to application. Further details on membership can be obtained here

Groups need to:

Be working within The Midcounties Co-operative trading locales i.e. Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton) and Warwickshire (see above). Please view map for other trading locales
Be a not for profit, third sector voluntary or community group active in their local community and run by local people, with an income of less than £200,000 (in the last financial year)
Be established for at least 12 months when you apply

*The applicant must have proven involvement with the group applying for funding i.e. be a Member of the Group/Group’s Management Committee, is a service user, paid member of staff or a volunteer.

How much can you apply for?

Grants are up to a maximum of £2,000 and groups are advised only to apply for the amount they need to purchase an item of equipment or to fund a project.

What to do next?

As round 2 has now closed, if you are not already a Midcounties Co-operative Member we would suggest that you apply for membership between now and round 3 which we expect to take place in the Autumn. Apply to become a member