Charities, good cause groups and community projects across the Lakes & Dales region – encompassing Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria – are being encouraged to apply for brand new funding available through Scotmid’s Community Connect awards before applications close at 5pm on Friday 28th February 2020.
Three local causes are set to benefit from a total of £9,000 on offer, with a top award of £5,000 and two runners-up groups receiving £2,000 each available to support local projects to make a difference in communities across the Lakes & Dales Region. The funding has been generated from the sale of single-use carrier bags.
The short-listed good cause groups will be selected by a panel selected from elected members, staff and ordinary members; one good cause group will be chosen from each of the Lakes & Dales’ trading areas, Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria.
Scotmid – the largest independent co-operative in Scotland with 177 food stores north of the border – merged with Penrith Co-operative in 2013 and then Seaton Valley Co-operative in 2015, which led to the creation of the Lakes & Dales brand.
There are nine Lakes & Dales shops situated in Shap, Lazonby and Keswick in Cumbria, stores in Seaton Delaval in Northumberland and St John’s Chapel, Stanhope and Frosterley in Weardale, County Durham.
Scotmid members in the Lakes & Dales area will soon receive a Community Connect card in the post within the next few months and it is members who will decide how the funds will be allocated. Members cast their votes for their preferred good cause group – either in-store in September 2020 or at a member event in October 2020 – and determine which charity gets the top Community Connect award of £5,000 funding.
With the deadline now approaching on Friday 28th February 2020, Scotmid is calling for applications from organisations and groups who are aiming to make a difference in their local community – whether that be to fund a specific initiative or to simply keep the doors open. The funds will be awarded in October 2020.