Overview

Finding new ways to tackle the housing crisis

Everyone deserves a place fit to call home. Yet with a shortage of new properties, outdated rental stock and a lack of support for the vulnerable, many people end up in unsuitable, unsafe, or unaffordable accommodation.

Decent housing is a topic close to our heart. In fact, it was central to how and why we began. It's also the reason why we launched our community grants programme: a chance for local organisations with great housing solutions to apply for grants of up to £50,000. Applications get shortlisted and our Community Boards come together to award grants. So far we’ve awarded almost £4.2 million to more than 100 local housing projects across the UK.

Make a difference in your community

Community Board member

Are you a Nationwide Member who wants to make a difference in your local community? We’re currently looking for members to be part of our Community Boards in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, West of England, and North East England.

Applying for a Community Grant

We’re looking to support local housing projects that support the most vulnerable, find new approaches to increase the supply of housing or reinvent renting for both tenants and landlords.

We’ll be opening up applications in June 2019 for projects in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, North West & North Midlands, West of England and North East England to apply.

Community Grants explained

Since members voted back in 2007 to use 1% of our pre-tax profits towards funding community projects, we’re now encouraging local solutions to the national housing crisis by:


  • welcoming applications from charities and other local organisations
  • allocating £22 million of funding across the UK over five years
  • providing individual grants of up to £50,000 per project to improve local housing issues
  • forming regional Community Boards, made up of local Nationwide members, employees and housing experts
  • Community Boards reviewing and awarding grants to a range of projects to tackle the housing crisis in your local area.

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Grants awarded

So far we’ve awarded almost £4.2 million to more than 100 local housing projects across the UK. The projects have been driven by local housing needs and chosen by local members and range from refurbishing derelict and empty homes in South East Cornwall for local communities to providing housing support to the homeless in Cambridge.

Why this matters to us

We only exist because a group of people came together to help each other save and borrow for a home of their own. Today, this spirit of mutual co-operation and community building still defines us. As a mutual run for the benefit of our members, our commitment to helping people have homes of their own is stronger than ever.

If you've got a question about our Community Grants, we'd love to hear from you.

Email us

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