Virgin Media O2 launches “Together Fund” to supercharge nation’s communities

London, UK: Virgin Media O2 today launched a £500,000 fund to supercharge hundreds of local charities across the UK as the nation emerges from the pandemic.

The “Together Fund” is a nationwide initiative designed to specifically support local charities that champion and celebrate community spirit, belonging and togetherness across the UK.

Grants of £1,000 are available for environmental and community belonging projects, inspiring people across the UK to get together and create positive change for the causes they care most about.

The fund itself, which follows the launch of Virgin Media O2 on 1 June, will be distributed via Neighbourly which has over 16,500 community-based good causes already registered on its platform. Interested local charities can register and apply for free at neighbourly.com.

The Together Fund forms part of Virgin Media O2’s support for the Together coalition which aims to bring people together to help build a kinder, closer and more connected society. Funding will be made available in time for the Together Coalition’s national #ThankYouDay, which takes place on Sunday 4th July.

In addition to the creation of the Together Fund, Virgin Media O2 also announced today that it is providing:

• support for the Together Coalition to launch a ‘Community Connectors’ initiative, which will resource local organisations to facilitate social connection activities, including participation in Thank You Day on the 4th of July 2021, in areas of low social capital.
• Virgin Media O2’s existing strategic charity partners, Carers UK and The Climate Coalition, will also receive additional funding to run #ThankYouDay events and activities that promote a sense of community belonging and inspire positive action to protect nature and the local environment.

Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2 said:

“As one of our first acts as a new business we’ve created a fund dedicated to supercharging hundreds of community-based charities that are already doing incredible things.

“Our broadband and mobile networks already connect millions of people across the country, but as a business we’re committed to doing more to bring people together, accelerate positive social and environmental change and promote a sense of community belonging as we push ahead with our mission to upgrade the UK.“

The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds and Chair of The Together Initiative Board of Trustees:

“This new Together Fund is wonderful and will help equip and empower local organisations to harness and build on the surge in community spirit we’ve seen throughout the pandemic – particularly as they celebrate Thank You Day on the 4th of July.

As we emerge from lockdown, we have a unique opportunity to create kinder, closer and more connected communities, and we are thrilled that Virgin Media O2 is able to support the Together Coalition to make this a reality.”

The Together Fund is open to local charities registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland or the Office of Scottish Charity Regulation and with a turnover of less than £1m.

For more information on the Together Fund, visit neighbourly.com/virginmediaO2togetherfund.

For further details on the national Thank You Day on Sunday 4th July, visit thankyouday.org.uk