Two local charities have each received a funding boost of £1,000 from The Co-operative Bank in the latest round of grants from its Customer Donation Fund.
Among the recipients of the ethical bank’s donations was Holborn Community Association*, a charity that aims to improve the well-being of those within the local community through its four work strands of arts, care, movement and play.
The charity works with over 2,000 people every year, offering a range of services from arts for wellbeing to play sessions for young children and their parents. It also delivers one-to-one support for local people, as well as community-wide events.
The £1,000 grant from the Customer Donation Fund has helped to support the charity with its Lunch Club for vulnerable older adults, which provides those who are struggling, with low cost, healthy, hot meals.
Paul Crozier, CEO at Holborn Community Association said:
“We’re so pleased with the grant we’ve received from The Co-operative Bank Customer Donation Fund. The funding will go a long way in enabling us to provide elderly members of our community with a nutritious meal through the lunch clubs.”
Funding was also awarded to family support charity Home-Start Camden and Islington.** Operating across both Boroughs, the charity provides support and practical help to parents with children under the age of five.
A key part of its work is its home-visiting service. This sees families matched with trained volunteers who will then pay them regular visits to offer support with a number of aspects of child development from emotional regulation to preparing for primary school.
Other services and activities provided by Home-Start include coffee mornings, playgroups and yoga, all of which aim to combat social isolation and help parents to build a peer network.
The Co-operative Bank’s £1,000 donation has enabled Home-Start Camden and Islington to expand its programme of events, particularly visits to cultural, educational and social institutions, as well as green spaces across London.
Home-Start Camden and Islington CEO, Naomi Smith explained:
“The funding is having a huge impact on our ability to provide families with enriching experiences that they would not feel comfortable in visiting without our support. Many of the parents we work with are refugees or those fleeing domestic violence, so this is an important part of our wider commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable families in our community.”
Holborn Community Association and Home-Start Camden and Islington are among 10 projects across London that have collectively received £10,000 from The Co-operative Bank in the latest round of grants. Other projects included an educational support social enterprise, a carer’s centre and a community support organisation.***
Amelia Burnett, SME Product Manager at The Co-operative Bank, said:
“Supporting our customers, particularly smaller charities and community projects, has never been more important. We are proud to have been able to provide these grants to projects across the UK that are positively impacting communities, at a time when many people are facing cost of living challenges.”
Since the Customer Donation Fund was set up back in 2003, award-winning charity banking provider*** The Co-operative Bank has donated over £1.1 million to more than 1,000 community projects, with £100,000 donated last year alone to support communities through the cost of living crisis.
The Co-operative Bank is welcoming applications for the next round of funding from Community Directplus customers across London. Charities, community interest companies, benefit societies, co-operatives and credit unions looking to apply can fill in the form here.
