The M&S Community Fund

What is the M&S Community Fund?

The M&S Community Fund is a grant-based initiative dedicated to supporting local good causes across the Guernsey community. Through this fund, we allocate financial grants to help charities, environmental projects, welfare organisations, schools, volunteer programmes, church groups and other locally based initiatives that make a positive impact in Guernsey.

How much is available?

Each year, the M&S Community Fund will set aside a total of £20,000 to distribute to deserving applicants. To ensure we can support a wide range of projects, individual grants are capped at £1,500. This means we can typically award donations to around 12-15 recipients annually, allowing us to make a significant difference in our local community.

How does the application process work?

Applying for a grant from the M&S Community Fund is straightforward:

1. Application Submission: Interested parties can submit their application via email or through an online form on our website. Applicants must provide details about their project, the specific donation amount they need and how it will positively impact Guernsey.
   
   
2. Application Window: The fund is open for applications for a set period. After the window closes (which we will communicate in advance), we will assess all submissions against set criteria.
   
   
3. Notification: Three weeks after the application window closes, we will notify all applicants of our decisions—both those selected for a grant and those not chosen on this occasion.

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from a wide range of community-focused groups, including:

• Charities
• Environmental projects
• Welfare organisations
• Schools
• Volunteer programmes
• Church groups
• Any other locally based good causes

What types of projects do we support?

The M&S Community Fund is particularly interested in initiatives that align with our key areas of focus:

• Protecting our local environment
• Supporting the ageing population
• Inspiring future generations
• Promoting social inclusion
• Enhancing health, wellbeing and combating obesity
• Encouraging diversity
• Maintaining local landmarks

Why are M&S doing this?

This is an initiative created by the M&S Franchise in Guernsey, proudly owned by the Creasey family who have lived in Guernsey for generations. We have been humbled over the years seeing numerous volunteers give up their time to help local causes.

M&S in the UK has its global Plan A initiative, so our Community Fund is a localised interpretation to support local initiatives that help our island prosper.