Just Growth: a new funding programme for food and farming projects

Just Growth a new funding programme created by the FEA, Co-operative and Community Finance and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation launched on 13th July 2015.

The aim of the programme is to support social enterprises that are producing food in an environmentally and socially just way – hence Just Growth.

“We’re looking for projects that farm in a way that nurtures and protects the environment, helps people take control of their food and enables more people to eat beter food” said Clare Horrell, the project’s programme manager.

A key aim is to encourage community ownership and the programme will be looking for organisatons that are owned and run by their community or that have strong co-operatve principles embedded in their structure.

Up to 8 projects will receive a funding package made up of loan fnancing from CCF and grant funding from Esmee Fairbairn. The remaining funding has to be raised by the project itself from its local community either through crowdfunding or community shares. The release of the loan and the grant is contngent on the projects raising the necessary community fnance.

In additon to funding, the programme is also ofering upto 3 days of mentoring support. The programme is only able to support projects based in England, Scotland and Wales.

Further informaton about the project and how to apply can be found here.