Empowering Local Communities Grant

Enabling grassroots community groups to improve the lives of people in their local community.

The Empowering Local Communities grant is one of three grants within the Grassroots Grants programme, which aims to empower Community Champions and grassroots groups to apply for what’s important in local communities.

Proposals must be:

  • True to their community mission.
  • People-centred.
  • Efficiently run.
  • Locally focused.

The Empowering Local Communities grant is for groups who are supporting people over the age of 18 in the community, or a mixture of children and adults.

The purpose of the programme is to support projects and activities which are important to a community which benefit local people. The programme is designed to support projects under three themes:

  • Essentials.
  • Improve/maintain a service.
  • Volunteering.

Grants of between £400 and £2,000 are available. The request must be for one of the following fixed amounts: £400; £500; £800; £1,000; £1,200; £1,600; or £2,000.

Groups may apply for one Empowering Local Communities grant per year.

Festive celebration events are available for up to £400 (and food is capped at £12.50 per person, and decorations and entertainment costs are capped at £100).

Basic sports kit and equipment are available for up to £400.

For volunteering costs, there is a £120 cap per volunteer.

Who Can Apply

Applications are accepted from local not for profit community groups and organisations based in the UK.

The following criteria apply:

  • Group must have a presence in and benefit the local community.
  • End beneficiaries must be community groups of people.
  • There is no minimum timescale for how long the group has been in existence.
  • The group has a bank account in its group name and can provide proof.
  • The group has suitable governance to be able to manage funds from Asda Foundation e.g. financial reporting, committee meetings.
  • The annual turnover of the organisation must be below £1 million.

There is no annual income limit for applicant organisations.

Groups may secure one successful Grassroots grant per year.

How To Apply

The closing date for applications is 8 November 2024.

The scheme may close early if funds are depleted.

Application forms can be obtained from Asda Community Champions, who are based in local Asda stores. Applicants can use the store locator link on the Foundation website to get in touch with their local store and speak to their Community Champion about their project proposal, who may then nominate the group to receive an application form.

All applications must be made via the applicant’s local Asda Community Champion; applications made directly by organisations will not be accepted by the Foundation.

Applications should be submitted at least six weeks before activities are due to begin to give enough processing time and should include the following:

  • Bank statement/paying in slip to verify the payee name for the cheque by looking at the account name, which should be clearly visible.
  • Group documents e.g. constitution, club rules, etc.
  • Safeguarding policies, etc.
  • If not a registered charity, provide confirmation that the group is a not for profit organisation.
  • Digital signature declaration (if not providing a wet signature).
  • Ringfencing confirmation (if group name and payee name are different).

Groups should contact their local Asda Community Champion for further information.

Visit here – Our Grants | Asda Foundation