Applications are now open for the next round of community project funding from the Co-op.

A pot worth thousands of pounds will be shared between just three projects.

The deadline has been extended to 13 June. 

Since the Co-op launched its Local Community Fund in 2016, groups in the Chorlton area have benefited from significant funding to help projects - worth thousands of pounds each year.

The fund pays 1% of what local Co-op members spend in store on Co-op brand products over one year. The money is shared between three local community projects. Local members can chose which of the three they want to receive the money from their spend.

Doing it differently in Chorlton

After the application window closes on 13 June, the three projects in each area will be chosen from the eligible applications in that area.

In Chorlton we choose which applications we want to support by holding an on-line member vote. We're the only area in the country where this happens.

For Round 6 we chose Chorlton Bike Deliveries, Stitched Up and Whalley Range Community Forum.

How to apply

For Round 7 the Co-op is looking in particular for projects that help people access food, improve people’s mental well-being or provide opportunities for young people.

To apply your group or project needs to sign up on the Co-op's Co-operate platform. This is worth doing anyway because it's a good place to promote local community work and projects.

You have until 13 June to apply, but we advise you not to leave it any later than the 11th.

You can find full information on the fund and make your application here.

Help Chorlton Bike Deliveries buy a new bike!

Chorlton Bike Deliveries has been a great example of cooperation in Chorlton. From rushed start-up in response to COVID crisis to a sustainable cooperative, owned by riders, residents and local organisations and businesses.

CBD is now ready to expand the fleet, so the coop can better support local businesses, public sector and community organisations. You can contribute to the crowdunder:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/deliveries-by-bike/

Co-op AGM

The Co-op held its AGM on line 10am Saturday 15 May 2021.

You can see the recording on Youtube here.

You can still sign our letter to the Co-op

We've written a letter to the Co-op on the Picture House (Funeralcare) site sale.

The letter has now gone to the chair of the Co-op, Allan Leighton, the chief executive, Steve Murrells and the president of the National Members' Council, Nick Crofts. It was signed by almost 600 people including Jeff Smith MP, local councillors and local community groups and traders.

Thanks to everyone who signed. You can still show your support by adding your name as a supporter now. This all helps make it clear just how much support there is in the community.

Background

The Co-op is currently considering a bid led by the Chorlton Community Land Trust to buy the site that includes the former Gaumont cinema.

For the last few years this has been a Co-op funeral home. When it was a cinema, the Bee Gees famously first performed there, in public, as children.

The Co-op will be deciding soon whether to accept the community-led bid. The Community Land Trust says this is on a knife edge. If the bid falls through then the Co-op could sell to a developer that would raze the site to build expensive flats.

The community-led bid would create a shared asset for the community, including a food-hall with space for events and to attract Bee Gees fans.

Community Land Trust vision for the Picture House

That's why we decided at a Let's Reimagine Our Chorlton call that we should write a letter to the Co-op that everyone can sign, urging them to accept the community-led bid, or at least not to consider any bid that would destroy this valuable community asset.

You can read the letter here.

We're encouraging everyone who cares about keeping this asset for the community to add their names. Just click on the button below and complete the short form.

Add your name

Let's Reimagine Our Chorlton

Thanks to everyone who has joined in the "Let's Reimagine Our Chorlton" videocalls.

Not only do we now have lots of ideas and energy, some real things have come about because people have picked them up and made them happen:

• The Our Green Chorlton group has organised a fantastic leaflet delivered free to homes across Chorlton.
• We sent a letter to the chair of the Co-op about the Funeralcare building, signed by 600 people and organisations.

Now we're working on events over the summer.

A reminder that we've got five main themes:

• Building on the success of Chorlton Connectors
• Using cooperative models to create employment and improve Chorlton
• Reimagining travel in and around Chorlton
• Communicating and sharing what's happening
• Green spaces and the environment

If you'd like to carry on or join the conversations, the next call is:

Sunday 20 June 4pm - 5pm

How to join call

Bee Gees Chorlton Picture House story

A clip from 'This is Your Life' 1991.

Thanks to Hazel Gibb for finding this.

Here the Bee Gees talk about their first performance in front of an audience - at the Gaumont picture house here in Chorlton.

Chorlton Remembers 2020

A community building together

see the video about remembering how Chorlton pulled together during the lockdown

Chorlton Bike Deliveries

Local cyclists have come together to create a new delivery service supporting vulnerable people.

They are building a new bike delivery service working with traders like Unicorn and Chorlton Cheese Mongers. By arrangement with local Co-op stores they are taking surplus but still-good produce to Emmeline's Pantry, and the Co-op has paid for new hi-vis jackets.

Read our page about the project here.

Visit the Chorlton Bike Deliveries site here