Bristol’s community businesses will be able to apply for finance to help them grow and achieve sustainability when a new fund re-opens next week.
The Community Business Fund from independent trust Power to Change will offer grants between £50,000 and £300,000 to businesses trading for the benefit of – and accountable to – their local communities. 
The Bristol city-regions is among 10 places in England which Power to Change’s researchers believe will benefit most from community businesses.
The latest fund, which opens on Tuesday, is the sixth round of the Community Business Fund, which has so far supported more than 90 organisations ranging from farms to libraries and canal moorings to cinemas across England to become more financially sustainable.
All the businesses operate in a way that delivers positive social impact.
Bristol’s Windmill Hill City Farm received £244,000 through the fund, which it used to expand its café, giving the community access to a social hub that provides high-quality local food.”
Windmill Hill City Farm marketing manager Simone Dougall said: “It can also improve people’s knowledge about where their food comes from. More people will have a chance to develop their skills by volunteering or on work placements in the kitchen – really valuable to those with social care needs.”
Power to Change programme manager Colette Harvey added: “We’re very excited to make a further £2.5m available to community businesses and aim to support 15 more organisations through this next round of funding.
“Community businesses are doing exceptional work at delivering more cohesive local communities and a stronger civil society. We look forward to receiving a broad range of applications from a wide variety of places and sectors.”
After opening on September 11, community businesses will have until midday on Tuesday October 9 to apply. Guidance on applications is available here. Grant awards will be made to the successful organisations at the start next year.
Power to Change will host a webinar on September 13 to give hopeful applicants an overview of the fund and its eligibility criteria. This is also a great opportunity for community businesses to ask any questions they might have about the application process. Register for the webinar here.
There will be further rounds of the Community Business Fund, with the next application window open in early 2019.
