Nationwide Building Society urges charities to apply for £22m community grants programme

The Nationwide Building Society has opened applications for its community grants programme, which aims to make £22m funding available to housing charities and organisations within the next two years.

The grants programme is aimed at supporting vulnerable people with housing issues by awarding grants to charities, community land trusts and housing co-operatives.

The focus is on preventing homelessness, supporting to people in finding a home and to “support people to thrive within the home environment”.

Grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 are being made available.

Since 2018 the building society has funded 350 projects and awarded £14m. By 2023 it aims to take that total to £22m.

Nationwide is to cap the amount of applications it will accept with the aim of ensuring that one in four applicants will be successful.

If the cap isn’t reached applications will close at 11pm on June 21.

“The last year has been exceptionally challenging for many of us, but if there’s one thing it’s taught us, it’s the value and importance of community,” said Nationwide Building Society senior social investment manager Rachel Smith.

“Since 2018, our Community Grants Programme has supported charitable organisations seeking to make a difference to vulnerable people facing housing challenges across the UK.

“Everyone should have a place fit to call home which is why our Community Grants Programme is so important to us. As a member owned organisation, we have always seen it as our place to help facilitate positive changes in local communities, and we are encouraging charities to apply to our Community Grants programme.”