Here are the projects that have applied for funding under Round 7 of the Co-op's Local Community Fund

Click on a project to read about what they said in their application

• Cracking Good Food
• The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre
• 2nd/249th Manchester
• Reach Out to the Community
• Emmeline's Pantry

Cracking Good Food

About the group: We aim to increase access to good food and peoples' ability to cook it from scratch across Manchester. EVERYONE deserves good food! We continue to cook and distribute 1500+ meals per week for people in need of support and we enthuse, encourage, and teach community groups how to source and cook affordable, healthy, and tasty food whilst minimising both food waste and our environmental impact.

What the group will do: We will run cooking classes and food safety training in homeless prevention hostels, to increase peoples' skills, confidence and ability to eat well.

How the money will be spent: The funds will pay for 8 fun, confidence and competence-building, 2-hour-long cooking sessions in homeless prevention hostels. The money will cover the costs of transportation of equipment, cooks, co-ordinators, volunteer expenses, ingredients, project management, laundry, PPE and cleaning equipment.

How the project will benefit the community: We are passionate about the power of food to bring people together.  Cooking together forges new social bonds and particpiants who are experiencing multiple life challenges such as addiction and trauma are supported to feel worthy and capable of making good food. People also learn new life skills for when they are living alone again, which will support them to eat well in the future.

Co-op theme: Access to Food

Postcode: M21 9JU

Website: https://crackinggoodfood.org/

The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre

About the group: We're a group who want to affect positive social change by encouraging people to participate in the Arts.  We are open to the public and run a variety of arts based courses designed to help people learn new skills, discover their creativity and make new friends.  We also run special groups for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and people with a learning disability.

What the group will do: We want to pay artists/practitioners to create a Community Arts Club with regular activities including singing, acting, dancing, writing, painting, ukulele, drawing, comedy and performance    

How the money will be spent: We will use funding to pay experienced sessional workers (as above) to deliver a range of facilitated, participatory activities for the community, (weekly & daytime) particularly targeting people who are unemployed or on restricted incomes.  We are keen to cater for those people who may be falling through the net and unable to access many creative services or opportunities offered in the city.

How the project will benefit the community: Our activities provide an alternative to traditional learning approaches, are fully accessible and support participants through a process of personal change.   We offer an alternative to negative activity, help participants to (re) discover a sense of purpose, learn new skills, make new friends, increase their mental and physical health and well-being and feel more positive for their future.

Co-op theme: Access to Mental Wellbeing

Postcode: M21 9JG

Website: https://www.edgetheatre.co.uk/

2nd/249th Manchester

About the group: Everyone’s welcome. Our members, aged 6 to 11 come from Hulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range and Chorlton. All genders, races, backgrounds and physical ability – there’s a Scout adventure out there waiting for them. And we’ll help them find it.  We provide skills for life, we go camping, hiking, swimming, abseiling, cycling, canoeing, playing games, working in a team and taking on new challenges.

What the group will do: Aim to open a new Scout section for 11 to 14 year olds

How the money will be spent: Money will support the promotion of adult recruitment to find new Adult volunteers. Attendance at local events and cost associated with this can be covered. Support can be given to the volunteers in supporting their training and buying uniform.

How the project will benefit the community: Following the pandemic we unfortunately had to close our scout section. This means that our current members have to stop scouting with our group at the age of 11. By opening the scout section we provide scouting to a wider range of people and allow us to continue to providing skills for life for the young people of our community.

Co-op theme: Access to Education & Employment for Young People

Postcode: M21 0UX

Website: https://www.2nd249thmansouthscouts.org.uk/

Reach Out to the Community

About the group: We're a group that’s supports people experiencing homelessness and poverty in South Manchester.

What the group will do: We want to pay for an outreach/support worker to do welfare checks, offer support to people sleeping rough in & around South Manchester into accommodation & help them improve their health & well-being

How the money will be spent: The money we are seeking funding for is to pay towards an outreach/ support worker.

How the project will benefit the community: Our charity supports some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, we can help people to access DWP benefits, health care, register as homeless or referrals into mental health, drug & alcohol services or into accommodation.    

Co-op theme: Access to Food

Postcode: M21 9AS

Website: https://reachouttothecommunity.co.uk/

Emmeline's Pantry

About the group: We're a food bank providing food, toiletries, clothing and baby equipment to women and their families living in poverty.

What the group will do: We'd like to recruit a Development Worker for our schools outreach programme, peer support group and community garden activities.

How the money will be spent: The money will go towards the Development Worker's salary  and on costs.

How the project will benefit the community: The outreach programme aims to educate about food poverty. The community garden toddler group and baby choir will provide a community hub where parents can meet in an outside environment to promote wellbeing and good mental health. Our allotment will help to feed those in need and promote nutrition.

Co-op theme: Access to Food

Postcode: M21 7SJ

Website: https://emmelinespantry.com/