We've opened applications for our Community Fund to support local organisations and projects.
The Community Fund, which awarded over £90,000 between April 2022 and March 2023, is part of our commitment to supporting and investing in communities, especially at a time when it’s really needed.
Organisations have until 31 July 2023 to apply. Applications will be considered by our resident-led Thriving Communities panel, made up of customers and those living in our communities. Projects with a cost-of-living focus will be prioritised and where projects are in the same geography as Abri residents, we ask applicants to aim for a minimum of 50% inclusion of people who live in Abri homes.
Cita Jagot, Communities and Involvement Manager said “Our Community Fund is here to help where and when it’s needed most. We have £90,000 of funding available this year (April 2023 – March 2024) and organisations can apply for up to £3,000 to support a project in one of Abri’s communities. We know that the persistently high cost of living is still having a big impact on our customers and communities, which is why we’re prioritising projects that focus on this type of support.
"In the last round we continued to see applications from organisations offering essential support, such as community get-togethers, youth support, and wellbeing projects.”
Successful applications have included:
- Groundwork South for their Vench Community Days in Lockleaze, promoting healthy living with their Community Feasts and helping to combat the cost-of-living crisis through their Warm Space Café Sessions.
- Love Outdoors CIC for their Welly & Wellbeing Group, supporting Gosport residents with their mental health.
- The Autism Group, to extend their Tea with Tag project into Windsor, providing a safe space for parents and carers to share experiences and build support networks to better support their child with autism.
- Youth Options for their youth support programmes in Millbrook, Southampton, with the aim of reducing anti-social behaviour by improving self-esteem and the wellbeing of participants.
- Christians Against Poverty for their Life Skills Courses in St Peters Community Centre, Yeovil, designed to support household on low incomes.
- St Michaels & All Angels Church in Birchfield, Yeovil, for their Community Coffee Mornings in Monmouth Communal Lounge and St Johns Communal Lounge.
Our Community Fund opens for applications four times a year, and organisations can apply for up to £3,000 to support a project in one of our communities. This application window opens 1 July 2023 and closes on 31 July 2023.
Application forms are available on Abri’s website at https://www.abri.co.uk/services/enterprise-investment/community-funding.