Santander launches Community Plus Fund across the UK following successful South West trial

The new UK-wide scheme follows on the heels of Santander’s pilot scheme for the South West of England which opened last month. Santander Foundation Manager Alan Eagle said:

We have been delighted by the response to Community Plus across the South West. There is a real appetite for small grants to help build local projects so we have decided to bring forward the launch of the nationwide scheme, which was originally scheduled for next year." “Through the Santander Foundation we make hundreds of donations every year to good causes around the UK for education and financial capability projects. This new fund has been set up to support a broader range of initiatives, along with a quick and simple application process specifically designed for small charities.”

This is good news for local UK-registered charities that can apply now for grants of up to £5,000. The funding can help with the cost of salaries, equipment or materials for projects that assist disadvantaged people within the UK. Projects must be local.

Designed to be quick and easy to use, nominations can be made by charities as well as Santander customers and staff. Just visit any Santander branch and complete a simple nomination form or download one from the Santander Foundation's website.

The completed form should be dropped into the box provided in your local branch. There are no closing dates and entries will be regularly considered by a panel of staff drawn from across the region. Successful charities will be notified within 2 months of submitting their nomination. If you do not hear from us within 2 months you should assume that you haven't been successful and you are free to submit another nomination.

The grant needs to fund something specific. Just two examples would be a piece of equipment or to pay for the costs of a part time sessional worker. It must also directly help disadvantaged people in your local area.

The only criteria for the Community Plus grants are:
• must be a UK registered charity
• must be a local charity or local project of a larger charity
• the grant must benefit local disadvantaged people
Please note, the Foundation cannot fund:
• Individuals
• Unregistered charities, not for profit groups, Community Amateur Sports Clubs, exempt or excepted charities
• Community Interest Companies or Social Enterprises
• Charities which restrict their beneficiaries to a single religious or single ethnic group
• One off events and conferences, sponsorship or fundraising activities
• Party political activity

For further information, please follow the link below: