COMMUNITY businesses from across the district are being urged to apply to the Community Business Fund.

Cash grants worth between £50,000 and £300,000 will be made to organisations successful in applying for the fund, which is administered by charitable Trust Power to Change.

To date, the fund has given grants worth over £26 million to more than 140 community businesses across England. Seven grants worth £1,780,000 have been given out to community businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber, and the Trust is particularly keen to hear from community businesses in the region.

From farms to libraries, canal moorings to cinemas, the Community Business Fund supports a wide range of community businesses, which all operate in a way that delivers positive social impact.

Alex Steeland, programme manager at Power to Change, said: “The Community Business Fund is designed to support existing community businesses to become more financially sustainable. This could be through increasing their trading income, securing an asset like a building, or reducing their costs.

"In previous rounds we have offered grants to cover refurbishment, vehicles, equipment, or staff costs and professional fees. We’re really keen to help with applications so we’ve organised webinars and a helpline to help give people the best chance of success.”

The fund will open on September 11 and community businesses will have until noon on October 9 to apply. Organisations are encouraged to read the guidance and FAQs for the fund before making an application and to sign up to the Power to Change newsletter to be kept informed as to when the online application form goes live. Grant awards will be made to the successful organisations from January 2020.

Power to Change will host a webinar on September 12 to give hopeful applicants an overview of the fund and its eligibility criteria and ask any questions they might have about the application process.

For more details call 0300 1240444 or email cbf@weareumi.co.uk. Further information is available at www.powertochange.org.uk/funding/grants/community-business-fund/.