ASDA Foundation: Empowering Local Communities

Overview

They know that no two communities are the same. The Empowering Local Communities Grant aims to address diverse local challenges, supporting local groups that benefit a variety of ages.

This grant is for groups who are supporting people over the age of 18 in your community, or a mixture of children and adults. If the activity being delivered by your group solely benefits people aged under 18, then please review the Under 18 Better Starts Grant criteria.

There are several three rounds under this grant and this guidance is applied to round 3 only.

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

What will they fund

The Empowering Local Communities grant is designed to support a broad range of activities for this age group which can contribute towards transforming the community and improving the lives of children in that community.

There are four options to choose from under this grant. You must be clear from the outset which one you are applying for. It’s also possible to apply for a combination.

Food and Basic Essentials

Funding for the basic essentials to address an immediate need and/or situation

Examples of what would be funded:

• Foodbank and hygiene items
• Blankets, bedding, and essential clothing

Items to Improve/Maintain a Service

Funding to transform and/or improve a space/activity. Funding also to be used to bring people together for ongoing services.

Examples of what would be funded:

• Furniture and long-term fixtures
• Decorating items
• Items and equipment for group activities – this should be for service users only
• Training, upskilling one off costs for service users
• Board games, food and refreshments for ongoing services such as Youth Clubs.
• Essential sports clothing (max £400).
• One-off workshop costs.

Volunteering

Funding to support Volunteer costs enabling them to continue supporting their groups and communities £120 cap per volunteer

Examples of what would be funded:

• DBS checks
• Essential training course costs
• Travel costs to the volunteering location and for delivering services
• Refreshment costs.
• Stationary, clothing/uniform

Community Events

Funding to host community events. £400 max for any one-off event, 1 event per group. Groups applying for Community Event applications can apply for this ONLY

• Community events and meals (max £12.50 per person food costs).
• A total of £100 can be spent on decorations, entertainment and single use items
• Applications for community events cannot include items other than the ones used for the event.
• Events could include, but aren’t limited to: Christmas, Diwali, Eid and Passover.
• All events should focus on bringing people together, with food playing a key part of the item(s) they apply for.

This is not an exhaustive list. If you have any concerns or want to discuss something specific, please speak to your local Community Champion