Making a Difference Locally (MADL), symbol group Nisa’s charity, has launched a new round of its Heart of the Community Awards to help communities celebrate and commemorate the coronation of the King and the Queen Consort.
Nisa said the Awards will provide funding to help give a renewed sense of community, bringing loved ones, neighbours and communities together in the face of current economic challenges.
The coronation is set to take place on Saturday, 6 May, over a bank holiday weekend, with thousands expected to unite for street parties on Sunday, 7 May, and The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May, in which members of the public are invited to volunteer in their local areas.
There will be two funding opportunities – for community celebrations and volunteering projects – to apply for as part of the awards, with 100 donations of up to £500 available for each.
Nisa retailers can nominate a local group, charity or good cause to receive up to £500 in funding, to help communities celebrate the historic occasion with events such as Big Lunches, afternoon teas and street parties.
Donations could be used towards entertainment, food and drink, venue hire or decorations, or legacy celebration events such as tree planting, buddy benches, memorial gardens or school mementos.
Nisa retailers can also put forward a local group or good cause to receive up to £500 in funding to support local volunteers, the unsung heroes of communities, so that volunteering can be undertaken as part of the Big Help Out on 8 May.
Organised by The Together Coalition and a wide range of partners such as The Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service and faith groups from across the UK, the Palace said it will be in tribute to the King's public service and will help encourage people to try volunteering for themselves. Funding will be offered to provide any tools or equipment needed to complete local projects.
Local groups, charities and good causes should approach their nearest Nisa store to enquire about nominations.
Nominations will be accepted from Nisa retailers via a dedicated website until 14 March and winners will be announced during April. Each winner will receive up to £500 and past winners or nominees can also be put forward.
“We witnessed only last year what an amazing impact the Heart of the Community Awards had during the Platinum Jubilee on our communities and the Coronation promises to have another significant impact this year,” Kate Carroll, Nisa’s head of charity, said.
“We want to help by bringing communities together to celebrate what will be the first-ever coronation in many of our lifetimes. We are also delighted to be able to provide funding for the Big Help Out day following the coronation. The King has spent his entire life dedicated to public service, so a day dedicated to volunteering in our local communities feels very fitting.”
MADL supported 125 good causes with £100,000 in donations to help communities celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as part of the charity’s Heart of the Community Awards initiative in 2022.
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