Today, we are proudly announcing £750k of Asda Foundation funding for 60 local community projects to transform community spaces and places where local people can be together and thrive.

Grants awarded are between £5,000 and £25,000 and aimed at improving community spaces in local communities across the UK. 

Funding falls under three categories – renovating places, repairing spaces and transforming outdoor spaces, with projects ranging from fixing broken windows to refurbishing a whole community building, to setting up a new outside space to plant, garden and grow.

Alexandra Preston, Senior Manager for Asda Foundation, says: “Every community needs a heart. A safe inclusive space for people to be together, to celebrate, to learn. We know that small grass roots organisations play a vital role in their community, making positive change and improving people’s lives every day. These groups understand the needs in their community and are constantly adapting to meet those needs. The challenge for many of these groups is having the appropriate space and place to bring people together to deliver this fantastic work. That’s where Asda Foundation can help with funding.” 

Repairing a Space

Pan Together will use a £5000 grant to improve the quality of a building the group operates from, providing a warmer and safer feeling environment for service users. 

Rachel Thomson, Pan Together Manager, said: “We’re thrilled to receive a grant from Asda Foundation. Funding will make such a huge difference, helping us to replace rotting windows and doors which have become dilapidated and are in a state of disrepair. This will make the rooms warmer and more welcoming for volunteers, members, centre users, visitors and staff as well as lifting spirits and reducing our heating bills which will help us become more sustainable in the long term to enable us to continue our vital services for people in the local community. Thank you, Asda Foundation!” 

Clare Jones, Community Champion at Newport Isle of Wight store, said: “The impact this grant will have on the community that Pan Together helps is immense. The centre is a lifeline for so many local people, not only as a meeting place but for essential needs and signposting. I'm so pleased to have been a small cog in the process of getting the building repaired with new windows and enabling Pan Together to continue their fantastic support in our Community.” 

Renovating a Place

Headspace Bolton CIC received an Asda Foundation grant for £23,200.

Headspace offers an exciting and creative outlet for people with lived experience of mental illness and will use funding to renovate and transform their space to continue running workshops, performances and enable people to exhibit their work. The work includes a new access ramp, upgrades to bathroom and kitchen facilities, new and new staging. 

Ginny Allende, Co-founder of Headspace Bolton CIC, said: “Wow, we’re so happy and grateful to receive a grant from the Asda Foundation, we can’t quite believe it! This grant will enable us to renovate and transform our space to create a warmer, safer environment and gives us the opportunity to make it our ‘home’.  

Headspace Bolton offers a safe space for people to freely express their unique traits and individuality. Participants can get involved in a wide range of creative activities and workshops, from stand-up comedy to spoken word, photography to film making.  

This new and improved space will enable us to continue delivering our wide range of creative workshops, bringing people together, helping them to build skills and unlock their potential and improving mental health.” 

Lorraine Smith, Community Champion Asda Burnden Park, said: “I was delighted to surprise Headspace Bolton with a cheque for £23,200 from Asda Foundation. Headspace is an amazing local project providing creative opportunities and taking a unique approach to supporting people from our community. It’s a safe space to be yourself and let your creativity thrive and this funding will make a huge difference!” 

Transforming an Outdoor Space 

The Gateway Collective CIC runs a community garden space, growing vegetables which are shared with the community or cooked to give meals and will use £14,750 to build a kitchen and outdoor classroom within the garden space. 

Ali Horton from The Gateway Collective CIC, said: “Thank you Asda Foundation, we're so pleased to receive your support! Cooking and eating together is an integral part of our sessions helping to create community togetherness and combatting food poverty, however without a kitchen we rely on camping stoves and cook outside. This grant will fund a fully fitted kitchen which is ready to use. A new kitchen has so many benefits including helping us to increase our reach, opening a cafe and enabling us to use the space during the cold winter months. It will help us open our range of cooking options that are not possible on a camping stove and create new recipes from the food we grow. The new facility will help us to address the rising cost of living by reducing food poverty in our community, giving local people the tools to grow and cook for themselves."

Colette Johnson, Community Champion Asda Bootle, said: “I have been going to North Park Community Garden since 2016 and I have watched it grow and develop over the years. As the garden has expanded, new people have joined and benefitted from it. North park community garden is more than a garden it is a place for people to meet other people, to socialise and to work together. The food they grow and cook is an important part of the process, as is eating together. The kitchen will bring another element to the garden community as they are limited due to the lack of facilities and the kitchen will become a community hub were everyone is welcome and has a place to belong.” 

Congratulations to the 60 successful groups below who are receiving an Asda Foundation Investing in Spaces and Places grant.

Renovating a Place
Ark Church Nottingham
Armed Forces Support Group
Bailliefields Community Hub SCIO
Bangor Foodbank and Community Support
Bideford & District Sea Cadets
Biggleswade Arts Collective CIC
Bothwell Futures
Bournemouth Lifeguard Corps
Charles Young Centre
Coddington Village Hall
CPD Pwllheli FC Cyfyngedig
Creative Care Scotland
Dream Time Creative CIC
Elder Voice
Engage In The Community
Fittie Community Development Trust
Friends of Morecambe Bay
Grenoside Scout & Guide Group
Headspace Bolton C.I.C
Helenslea Community Hall SCIO
Manchester Vineyard
Newton Abbot Centre Association
One Dalkeith
Re. Future Collective
Seagoe Youth Group
Shirley Community Association
St Stephen's Church, Chatham
The Future Group for St Mary's Church Bitton
The Gate Charity
The Net Youth Project - Comber Youth For Christ
The Parochial Church of Great Baddow, Meadgate
The Streetly Association
Youth & Community Connexions

Repairing a Space
1st Golborne (St Thomas) Scout Group Executive Committee
1st Wormley Scout Group
Abbeydore Church
Boldon Community Association
Bracken Bank & District Community Association
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
Farri Park CIC
Gordan Rural
Medbourne Village Hall
Morley Cricket & Sports Club
Pan Together
St Aidens Southcoates Parochial Church Council
Walk Tall
Workington Unit of the Sea Cadet Corps

Transforming an Outdoor Space
Burnhill Action Group
Burnside Centre
Cancer Connect NI
Friends of Spondon Parks
Knockbreda Community Garden
SEN Space Care and Respite Services CIC
St Austell Baptist Church Family Centre
St Margaret The Queen PCC
Swimbridge Parklands
The Gateway Collective CIC
Trimsaran Forum
Widmer End Village Hall & Recreation Ground Committee
Wildside Activity Centre

Are you a local community group or charity looking for funding to support your important work? Speak to your local Community Champion for more information on funding opportunities and support.