The Co-op Foundation has promised to prioritise its funding awards over the next five years on offering “unrestricted, flexible and long-term” grants.

Its 2022-2027 strategy outlines plans to move the Foundation “away from being a traditional funder” and instead refocus on long term, flexible grants.

The strategy has been developed in consultation with around 100 young people, as they “have most at stake” in the future of their communities, said the Foundation.

“Building the communities that young people want to be part of will take time. As such, and where appropriate, we would invest in organisations over longer timeframes,” states the strategy.

“Long-term funding is a way we can demonstrate the co-operative value of solidarity with our partners and communities and help encourage social responsibility.

“Our funds may vary in the length of grants we make, but all would be designed to support long-term work to build communities of the future”

It added that unrestricted funding gives charities “the power to decide how best to use these funds to build their communities’ future”.



The funder also pledges to focus awards of improving equity, inclusion, health, wellbeing and youth activism.

It is hoped this refocus on funding “will see us give power to community groups and young people”, according to Co-op Foundation chief executive Nick Crofts.

The Co-op Foundation awarded more than £6.5m in grants to community projects focused on tackling youth loneliness between 2017 and 2019.

Over this period, it also awarded £2.3m in interest free loans and grants to fund the long-term future of open spaces. In addition, it leveraged £6.8m in match funding and further grant commitments, according to its latest figures.

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