The Channel Islands Co-operative Society has launched its new Coop Community Impact Fund, with the first £69,000 awarded to environmental, heritage and community initiatives across Jersey and Guernsey.
Created following a member-approved rule change in 2021, the fund uses unclaimed balances from dormant member accounts to support projects that deliver long-term benefits for the islands. The first round of funding includes support for Jersey Island Geopark, GROW Jersey, Jersey Trees for Life, the National Trust for Jersey, Jersey Transport’s town buggy service, the Guernsey Nature Commission and the National Trust of Guernsey.
Mark Cox, CEO of CI Coop, said: “Because our members asked us to put dormant account balances to work in our communities, we are proud to launch a fund with clear purpose and real potential. The Community Impact Fund strengthens our ability to support some of the excellent work already being delivered in the community, while helping us to fulfil our vision of making a real difference to the communities we serve.”
The Coop Community Impact Fund will complement the Society’s existing Community Fund, focusing on larger projects with grants of up to £25,000. Funding will be distributed through direct grants, partnerships with charitable foundations and an annual application programme.
Among the projects supported is a £7,500 grant over two years towards Jersey Transport’s town buggy service, designed to help people with mobility challenges access parts of town more easily. Other initiatives include biodiversity projects, habitat restoration, community growing spaces and heritage celebrations.
Jessi Jennings, CEO at Guernsey Nature Commission, said: “We are so pleased to receive this funding from the Community Impact Fund, which will enable us to work with the landowners of Guernsey whose land has been designated as a Site of Special Significance (SSS) or an Area of Biodiversity Importance (ABI). These designations recognise the ecological importance of those sites in Guernsey, and so it’s essential to ensure landowners are aware of the designation of their land, as well as support them in maintaining the designation and help provide expertise in order to ensure positive biodiversity outcomes for Guernsey.”
Simon Matthews, Chief Property and Sustainability Officer of CI Coop, added: “The launch of our Community Impact Fund is the culmination of a journey initiated by our members, delivered by our colleagues, and undertaken with our community. The Fund is the very essence of ‘community impact’: supporting those island-wide initiatives in each of Jersey and Guernsey that will make a difference to the communities they serve.”
Main picture: Simon Matthews with Jersey recipients of the Community Impact Fund
