ASDA Foundation: Cost of Living Grant

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Track grant Notes

Overview

This grant is one of their ‘Grassroots Grants’ funding up to £2,000 to enable local community groups to meet the changing needs of their service users.

They know that no two communities are the same. The Cost of Living grant empowers local groups to respond to a rise in demand for their services, at the same time as a decline in income and rising running costs for the groups themselves.

How do Asda Foundation grants work?

Applications need to have the endorsement of an Asda Community Champion, who work out of Asda’s largest stores* across the UK. They have a set budget made available to them to support a range of groups in their local community during each grant round. Asda Community Champions work for Asda and their time is gifted to Asda Foundation to support their grants process.

How much can I apply for and when?

Groups may apply for one Grassroots Grant per year to a maximum value of £2000 and minimum value of £400.

Groups may apply for one Grassroots Grant per year.
There are three grant rounds taking place in 2024.
Applications should be submitted to Asda Foundation at least 6 weeks before your activity to give enough processing time. Please give the Community Champion sufficient time.
For this grant, groups can apply for a fixed amount, choosing from one of the following options: £400, £500, £800, £1,000, £1,200, £1,600, £2,000.
- Groups must discuss this with their Community and Customer Champions prior to them nominating your group for a grant. It is essential that groups stick to this agreed amount when completing their application on their Grant Management System.

Group Criteria

There is no minimum timescale for how long a group has been in existence before they can apply for an Asda Foundation Grassroots Grant; however, they MUST be able to meet all of the following criteria:

Be not-for-profit, as demonstrated in their governing document
Have an income below £1 million
Have suitable governance
- The group must demonstrate that it has suitable governance to be able to manage funds from Asda Foundation. E.g., Financial reporting, committee meetings, and safeguarding procedures that are relevant to the group.
Have a bank account that accepts cheques, and a bank statement which verifies their payee name
Have a visible local presence
Benefit people
Charge a reasonable amount for their activity/event.
Groups which charge more than a nominal fee to participate (i.e., membership charges) are ineligible from applying.
Have not received another Grassroots Grant this calendar year

For further details on eligible groups, see their full criteria here.

What will they fund

They know communities and grassroots groups have been impacted by the ongoing Cost of Living crisis. Even if the peak of the crisis has passed, many groups continue to experience a rise in demand for their services at the same time as a decline in income and rising costs.

This grant is for groups whose main activities are supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our society by providing them with the essentials, or simply providing a safe warm and welcoming space for those struggling to heat their homes during the winter.

Below you can see a list of options including examples of the kind of things they would fund.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list. If you have any concerns or want to discuss something specific, please speak to your Community and Customer Champion who will be happy to help. The full list of What We Would Fund can be found on page 3 of their criteria here.

Food and Essential Costs

Additional food and essential costs due to the cost of living crisis. (Please provide details of the requirement in the application form). This can include items such as: food parcels and family food boxes, ingredients for a soup kitchen and portable heater/blankets for a warm bank.

*Funding should be requested as a result of cost-of-living increases.

Rent and Utilities

Funding for rent and utility bills (maximum 6 months of support). This can include items such as: heating costs for a community group providing a warm bank, rental costs for a community organisation supporting a wide number of groups from the local area and electricity costs for a community hub.

Volunteering

Funding to support volunteer costs enabling them to continue supporting their groups and communities (maximum £120 per volunteer). This can include items such as: DBS checks, essential training course costs or travel costs to the volunteering location for delivering services.