Support for community shares

Over £210 million has been raised through community shares by more than 126,000 people since 2012. It's an innovative form of finance uniquely available to co-operative and community benefit societies and there's tailored support available across the UK.

England

Booster Fund

The Community Shares Booster Fund offers:

• Development grants – averaging £5,000, to prepare a community share offer: financial planning, governance support, marketing costs and being awarded the Community Shares Standard Mark. 

• Equity match investment – typically matching pound-for-pound up to £100,000 invested by the Booster Fund, providing the minimum share offer target is achieved. 

The Booster Fund is delivered in partnership by Co-operatives UK, Locality, Plunkett Foundation, and Co-operative and Community Finance. It is funded by Power to Change and the Architectural Heritage Fund. The Architectural Heritage Fund is ring fenced for heritage projects that play an important role in high street revival and the economic resilience of an area.

Reach Fund

Co-operatives UK is an Access Point for the Reach Fund, which helps community benefit societies (and, in some cases, co-operative societies), charities and social enterprises to raise investment finance. The Reach Fund programme offers grants of £5,000 to £15,000 to help these organisations prepare and provide important information that investors need before they can invest. To find out more contact [email protected] or read the full criteria on the Reach Fund website. 

Support for community shares in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 

If you're not in England, you may be able to apply for support through our UK-wide programme, Business Support for Co-ops.

We have listed other organisations working directly in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland:

Scotland

Community Shares Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by the Development Trusts Association Scotland to promote the use of community shares in Scotland.

Their friendly team is on hand to provide free support and guidance to anybody interested to learn more about community shares. They are also a sponsoring body and have Society Model Rules tailored to the Scottish context.

Eligible groups can also receive up to six days of tailored consultancy to help develop a community share offer, and can apply for a Microgrant to support the marketing and promotion of a community share offer.  

Wales

The Community Shares Wales Resilience Project is delivered by Cwmpas (formerly the Wales Co-operative Centre) and seeks to upskill local communities and community champions to create sustainability and a legacy for community shares in Wales to thrive and grow.

Their experienced team delivers direct support and advice to groups looking for to raise investment through community shares.

In addition, they are investing in a Welsh network of Community Shares Practitioners and Champions to help raise awareness of this investment option.

Northern Ireland

Co-operative Alternatives can provide advice and support on community share offers in Northern Ireland. Co-operatives UK's Business Support for Co-ops programme is also a route for accessing support.

UK wide

Community Ownership Fund

The Community Ownership Fund is a government fund to help local communities across the UK to take control of assets, amenities or facilities that are at risk of closure – from parks to pubs, lidos to libraries. If you're considering a community share offer, and potentially applying for support from the Community Ownership Fun, get in touch at [email protected]. Read more about the Community Ownership Fund.

Community Shares Practitioners

There is a strong network of community shares practitioners operating across the UK who can turn your aspirations into reality and develop your governance, business plan and community share offer in line with best practice. They can also support you to apply for funding from the various programmes below to run a successful community share offer.