Community Matters Fund
Grants of up to £10,000 to support projects combating loneliness and isolation.
Western Power Distribution has teamed up with Localgiving to deliver its Community Matters Fund. The fund will provide £500,000 to support charitable organisations in their response to people suffering with their mental health due to loneliness and/or social isolation.
Western Power Distribution distributes electricity to 8 million customers across an area covering the Midlands, South Wales and South West. Funding is available for non-profit and statutory organisations based in these locations. You can check if your organisation is eligible here.
The programme is now live and accepting applications until 24th April 2022. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by 4th May 2022. Projects must be delivered and funding spent by 31st December 2022. The application form is an online process; however, you can download the application questions below, so that you can prepare your answers.
If you are an existing Localgiving member then simply log into your account to apply. A link to the application form can be found under the ‘My Grants’ section of your account displayed on the left hand side of the page.
If you are not a Localgiving member then apply via the button below. If you are successful with your application, you’ll also receive a complimentary Localgiving annual membership.
As the largest electricity Distribution Network Operator in the UK, Western Power Distribution (WPD) is committed to supporting the communities it serves and its local environment.
As part of its long-term commitment to its communities, WPD has promised to deliver a shareholder-funded, annual £1m support fund for local community initiatives and good causes over the next five years. The Community Matters funding programme builds on the £1 million Covid response fund it delivered last year to support its vulnerable customers through the pandemic. You can find out more about the Community Matters Fund here.
This Spring, the company is launching the second phase of its new programme with a £500,000 fund, focusing on providing help and support to grassroot community groups tackling loneliness and isolation and its impact on mental health.
Now, more than ever, loneliness and social isolation is impacting the most vulnerable in our communities and WPD wants to provide immediate local support to its customers.
The Community Matters Fund is looking to support projects addressing loneliness and social isolation that fit within the following themes:
Delivering services to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation
Delivering services to improve mental health caused by loneliness and/or social isolation
Delivering educational activities focused on skills development and ongoing support to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation (e.g. digital skills, employability skills, life skills)
Innovative approaches to combat loneliness and/or social isolation and its associated impact on mental health.
Further information about the process can be found in our Funding Guide, which includes important eligibility information and FAQs. You can also download the questions that will be asked in the online application form below to enable you to draft your answers if you wish.
For more information, and to apply, visit: https://localgiving.org/about/WPD-community-matters-fund/