What is the funding for?
The focus of this funding is to improve the longevity, self-sufficiency and social/ environmental impact of your community fridge.
• Applications might include:
• Improving buildings and facilities related to your fridge
• Training and learning opportunities for your team
• Extending and/or expanding the existing service that the fridge group provides
• Using insights from previous projects to evolve into new initiatives (“survive mode” to “thrive mode”)
• Upgrading equipment and technology
• Reaching more people through marketing and communications
• Improving your income generation and fundraising
• Volunteer recruitment and management
• Trying out new and innovative ideas
• Working with other groups to make your project stronger
• Reducing waste and making best use of resources
• Capacity or core costs (This could include rent for the facility or salaries for permanent staff. Please note, core costs should be no more than 1/3 of the funding received)
• Evaluation or impact measurement
The application must demonstrate that the funding is to support activities relating to and/or around the community fridge
What other groups are saying..
"We've used our funding at Lochwinnoch Community Larder to make our space wheelchairfriendly, making sure everyone can access our services easily. This change has really opened up our doors to more people, showing just how much of a difference a bit of support can make."
Lochwinnoch Community Larder, Building upgrades
"Our funding at Refurbs Community Fridge kickstarted a marketing and fundraising campaign, helping us connect with local food suppliers and develop corporate sponsorship packages. It’s about inspiring businesses to see the social impact they can have by working with us. This initiative has been a game-changer for increasing our food donations and support." Refurbs Community Fridge, Marketing and fundraising
"We applied for funding to add a toilet at Waddesdon Hall Community Fridge, enhancing our facility's accessibility. This crucial upgrade allows us to host longer sessions and serve more people in our community. It's an essential improvement that ensures comfort and better access for everyone who relies on our services." Waddesdon Hall Community Fridge, Building upgrades
"Receiving funding to install air conditioning was a game-changer for our community fridge. Not only has it improved the quality of the food we distribute, but it's also created a more comfortable working environment for our dedicated volunteers. We strongly encourage other community groups to apply for funding—it's made a huge difference to us" Yaxley Community Fridge, Building upgrades
"We used our funding to significantly enhance our volunteer management. By streamlining our processes and making them more inclusive, we've not only retained more volunteers but also been better at recruiting new ones. This boost has increased our capacity to support the community effectively, ensuring we can continue making an impact." Community Fridge at The Feed, Volunteer management
"With the funding we secured, we've been able to employ a dedicated fundraiser at All Together Community. This role is focused on developing new fundraising strategies that will help us become less reliant on grants and more sustainable long-term. It's a strategic investment that's empowering us to grow our income and enhance our services to the community." All Together Community, Fundraising staff
Outline of the application process
1. Read through the guidance documents
2. Check you meet the criteria to apply
3. Read through our applications question guidance here
4. Decide when is the best time for your group to apply for this funding
5. Apply using this form here: APPLICATION FORM
6. Await outcome – The decision is usually known within 2 weeks of application
7. If successful, complete and return the LOA doc
8. If unsuccessful consider applying again
Application Questions
In the application form you will be asked to answer the following questions.
The next two slides give more information on these questions and how to answer them.
1. Briefly describe your organisation, your community fridge and the main activities of your group
2. Describe how receiving funding will help your group keep going
3. How did you decide that this is what your group and community needs?
4. What resources will you need to make this project happen? Are the outcomes doable and realistic?
5. How and what would you measure to show what the funding has achieved?
A few watch-outs
These are the most common reasons applications lose marks:
•The activity proposed doesn’t meet the criteria for this funding.
•It is not clear enough what the project is and how it would be delivered e.g. mentioning a number of different issues your group is facing meaning it’s unclear what the funding would go towards.
•There is an inconsistency in answers e.g., costs allocated in budget don’t match the activity.
•Budget does not include costings, was significantly less than the grant or does not use the funding in the most costeffective way.
•It is not clear that the community needed or asked for the specifically chosen project.
•It is not clear how the project will work alongside and/or appears to replace the community fridge.
What happens next?
Ready to Apply?
Ready to apply?
The online application is accessible on our funding page.
Please contact us directly if you're unable to complete a digital application, or if you have any questions.
You can also access our fund Q&A session: here
Get in touch via: communityfridge@hubbub.org.uk with the subject line “Investment Fund Application”.
Before you apply, don’t forget to fully read the following:
Terms and Conditions
Application Question Guidance Eligibility Criteria