Plunkett Foundation: Our Urban Shop
Overview
Plunkett Foundation has partnered with Locality and received funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to help urban communities access the support and resources available for rural communities to set up community-owned shops.
Your community is eligible for Our Urban Shop grant funding if it:
- is based in an urban area of any size within the UK
- the community will actively work together to encourage participation and engagement
- is in the early stages of exploring the potential of a new community-owned shop, or is more developed
- wants to set up and run a community-owned shop, not a private business
- can demonstrate a need for both business and community development support
- can demonstrate a commitment to multiple forms of investment from the community and from other sources, and therefore will not be solely dependent on an Our Urban Shop grant
- meets the Our Urban Shop pilot’s goals and values including overcoming any local community issues and challenges
- is willing to work with the Our Urban Shop team in 2015/16
Grant amount
If the application is deemed successful, they may award your community with a grant worth between £20,000 to £30,000 maximum. The amount applied for may not be what is offered to your community. It is also expected that the grant is at least match-funded by a range of other sources, for example funds raised through the community such as community shares, or via other grants, or a loan, if borrowing is required.
The grant can be spent on a range of key areas, for example:
- incorporation fees
- planning applications
- accountancy support
- other professional fees
- printing and promotion of a community share offer (up to £50)
- premises – purchase and/or refurbishment
- any other essential costs e.g. fixtures and fittings, equipment, stock