Co-operative Assistance Network Limited
Funding-assisted Programmes
CAN is an approved provider for the following funded programmes:
Bright Ideas
CAN is a Co-operatives UK preferred support provider for the Bright Ideas Programme.
Co-operatives UK have partnered with Locality and the Plunkett Foundation to deliver the programme which is jointly funded by Power to Change and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
It provides community businesses based in England with business development support, grants of up to £20,000, and opportunities to visit other community businesses.
The Hive
A new business support programme for people wanting to start or grow co-operative or community enterprises. A mix of online resources, training and advice that can help you build a better co-operative business. This is a Co-operatives UK project funded by The Co-operarive Bank.
CAN is a Preferred Provider to this programme and is authorised to deliver ono-to-one and cluster support. See here for more detail.
Reach Fund
This fund is for charities and social enterprises in England that require support to become investment ready. Grants of up to £15,000 are available.
Applicants first have to complete a diagnostic assessment.
Grants must be used to implement an investment readiness plan. This may involve paying an external support provider such as CAN to deliver specific work, such as advice, training or feasibility assessment. Applicants have to specify support providers.
Once investment readiness is achieved the scheme then helps applicants apply for the required investment, which must be repayable.
Applications must go through their preferred investment provider (“Access Point”), such as Co-operative & Community Finance.
If this is of interest to you please contact Chris Funnell: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Social Business Wales
wales.coop/social-business-wales
We are very proud to have gained this appointment and to be part of this 3-year, £11m programme.
Social Business Wales is funded by Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund. It provides FREE specialist business support to social business looking to grow. It is delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre as part of the Business Wales service.
Social Business Wales brings in experts who can help in specific cases, matching clients' needs to the expertise and capacity of consultants, and that's where CAN comes in. We look forward to assisting the development of co-operatives and social businesses of all shapes and sizes in Wales.
See here for more information and to find out if you may be eligible to apply.
It is possible for an applicant to nominate an approved consultant such as CAN to deliver to them but that outcome is not guaranteed. If you would like to nominate CAN, firstly, thank you, and secondly, please contact us before you apply.
Our National Marketing Team Leader is TBA.