Common interests and shared values mean PTAs are among those benefiting from The Co-operative Bank’s Customer Donation Fund, discovers Zena Alli
For The Co-operative Bank, ethics are paramount. The bank awards thousands of pounds through its Customer Donation Fund to customers who share its values of caring for our planet, our communities and its people.
Charlotte Urwin, value and ethics lead at the bank, says that last year the fund financially supported many PTAs, including giving £1,000 to the Friends of Rathfern to help develop a sensory room for SEN pupils to use when they need to take a ‘brain break’.
A kindergarten also received £1,000 to invest in an all-weather outdoor picnic area. This space has become a key part of its outdoor educational and early years development provision.
Community wins
Since 2003, when the fund was established, more than 1,200 community projects have received over £1.1 million.
To achieve success, the project you are hoping to fund must reflect the bank’s Ethical Policy, a document that outlines the bank’s commitments to customers on how it uses their money and how it acts as a business, based on information drawn from customers themselves.
‘We want our contributions to go where they will make a significant impact to our planet, to people and to the communities they serve,’ says Charlotte. ‘We focus on those areas because they form the three pillars of our unique Ethical Policy, which is led by our customers and based on the things that matter to them and what they want us to take action on.’
The Customer Donation Fund is open to Co-operative Bank customers such as PTAs, charities and community groups who hold a Community Directplus current account. The two-page application form is simple and straightforward. Customers can apply for funds at any time, and applications are assessed every six months. Successful applicants receive grants of between £500 and £1,000.
Allocating funds
‘We aim to fund one-off purchases that can make a difference to people, rather than help with major projects or with ongoing running costs,’ says Charlotte. ‘That’s why we liked the Friends of Rathfern Primary’s application for money for their sensory room, footballs and gardening tools. These purchases will have a big effect on the pupils.
‘We are proud to have been able to support our customers, particularly smaller charities such as PTAs, at a time when many people are facing significant challenges.’
Charlotte has advice for would-be applicants: ‘We’re looking for details that will give us an insight into your school, such as the number of pupils, the location, especially if you have any challenges in your area; plus information on the project. What will it add to your community? How will your pupils benefit? How much will it cost in total? This type of information can make your form stand out and help us to make an informed decision.’
Need to know
- You can apply for a Customer Donation Fund from The Co-operative Bank at any time of the year
- Applications are processed twice a year
- Your PTA must have a Community Directplus account with the bank. Check your banking app for details
- Before applying, make sure your project meets the criteria of the bank’s Ethical Policy.
‘You can see the joy these items bring’
Our school community is wonderfully diverse. We have speakers of more than 50 different languages and over half the pupils speak English as a second language. As a result, the PTA has always focused on providing events such as tea parties and socials that bring families together. However, recent government budget cuts mean we need to prioritise fundraising. We’re not just providing the extras but essentials, such as textbooks and sports equipment, too.
It’s an amazing school, and our headteacher is an inspiring leader. The added impact of the cost of living crisis has made us more determined than ever to provide for our school and its community. Recently, our PTA committee has grown to six members, allowing us to be more active and dedicate time to applying for funding.
We chose to open an account with The Co-operative Bank because ethical banking is important to us. As a school, we are committed to environmental matters. On World Environment Day in June, we pledged our commitment to a healthier planet and future for our children with our Climate and Ecological Emergency Declaration. We encourage a world view, which stems from the fact that we have pupils from such a culturally rich range of backgrounds.
The Co-operative Bank shares our ethical objectives. We were alerted to the fund and our eligibility to apply through our banking app. Teachers and pupils sent us their wish lists, which included equipping the sensory room to make it a more calming space for our SEN children. We also needed sports equipment for PE and the after-school clubs, and the nursery requested new gardening tools. Completing the application was straightforward and didn’t take long.
We were delighted to learn by email that our application had been successful – the money had already been credited to our account, so we didn’t have to wait for it to arrive.
We bought balls, games and soft lights for the sensory room and smart new kits for our girls’ football team. The nursery’s new gardening equipment will enrich the curriculum and promote healthy eating. The children are already using their new trowels and forks to grow fruits and vegetables. You can see the joy these items bring every day.
- Elinor Middleton, Friends of Rathfern, Catford, south east London (492 pupils)
Further reading
- ‘We got a £75,000 grant to create a community hub’
- Meet the grants provider: Music for All
- Meet the funder: Youth Music