Local housing causes to benefit from £500,000 as Nationwide opens grant application process

• Local charitable organisations have new opportunity to benefit from grants of up to £50,000
• Grants available to tackle housing issues in local communities

• Application process now open

Local community housing projects and charities are being urged to put their case forward as Nationwide, the world’s largest building society, makes £500,000 available to help make a difference to communities across the region.

The Society is inviting applications for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 for housing projects that will support the most vulnerable in local communities.

Gareth Franks, Nationwide’s Regional Director of Wales, said: “In 2007, our members voted for us to donate at least one percent of our pre-tax profits to good causes and asked that we focus on tackling housing issues.  We recognise there is a housing crisis, resulting in many people living in unsuitable, insecure or unaffordable accommodation. So, to help make a real and lasting difference, we are aiming to make £5.5 million available in grant funding for housing-related charities and organisations across the UK per year.

“We are delighted to open the local application process and encourage housing related charities and organisations to apply so that they can collectively benefit from the £500,000 award that is available to communities across Wales.”

A Community Board, which is comprised of Nationwide members and employees, will review all the grant applications and award grants of up to a £50,000.  The Board and Nationwide branches within the region will also be providing time and expertise to these charities.

So far Nationwide has awarded £4 million in grants to more than 100 projects and will be investing £5.5 million in housing projects across the UK per year. The programme is being delivered with support from the UK Community Foundations programme, the national network for all accredited Community Foundations across the UK.

Nationwide is now inviting applications for housing community projects in Wales until 5 July 2019. Full details can be found at www.nationwide.co.uk/communityfunding or in local Nationwide branches in this region.