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NatWest charity launches £1m grant fund to help social enterprises survive

Social & Community Capital (S&CC), an independent charity launched by NatWest in 1999 to support social enterprises and community businesses, has announced a £1 million Coronavirus Response Fund to help organisations that have suffered a loss because of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Grants between £5,000 and £50,000 are being offered to organisations across the UK that employ people from vulnerable or disadvantaged groups. This funding aims to bridge the income gap so that organisations survive the crisis and continue to have a positive impact in their communities.

 

Alison Rose, CEO at NatWest Group, said: “Many social enterprises, community businesses and charities that form an integral part of our local communities have unfortunately seen their incomes affected by the ongoing pandemic. These grants from Social & Community Capital will help champion the vital work that these businesses and charities do, so that they can continue to make a difference to those that need it most.”

 

Megan Peat, CEO at Social & Community Capital, said: “We know that people and families rely on the great work of local charities and community businesses, but we know that no one has been left unaffected by this devastating pandemic. This is why we want to help those organisations that employ people from vulnerable or disadvantaged groups and who have suffered a loss of trading income with our grants so that they can continue to have a positive impact in their communities.”

 

Applications for the NatWest Social & Community Capital Coronavirus Grant Fund will open at 9am on Monday 22 June. Full information on the grants, including the application form and how to apply, will be available online from Monday 22 June on the NatWest Social & Community Capital website.

Eligibility Criteria:

Organisations must:

  • employ people from vulnerable or disadvantaged groups
  • generate at least 30% of revenue from trading income
  • have had a pre-coronavirus annual turnover of between £50,000 to £1 million
  • have suffered a loss of trading income since March 2020, caused by lockdown restrictions
  • must have been founded and trading prior to 1st January 2019
  • must have been financially sustainable (or on a path to financial stability) up to March 2020
  • must be constituted, operating and delivering impact in England, Scotland, Wales, and/or Northern Ireland
  • must have one of the following legal structures: Community Interest Company (CIC), Company Limited by Guarantee, Community Benefit Society, Co-operative Society, Unincorporated association, Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Charitable Trusts, Registered Charity.

 

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