Commsave Credit Union’s Community Fund has awarded £2,000 in grants to two Northampton organisations – supporting the future of local radio and helping to fund an auditorium upgrade at Royal & Derngate.

The £1,000 grants have been awarded to NLive Radio and Royal & Derngate as Commsave celebrates its 35th anniversary and continues its commitment to supporting communities across Northamptonshire and beyond.

NLive Radio is Northampton’s local radio station, providing free airtime to charities and community groups so they can promote news, events and appeals alongside its music programming.

The station is run by volunteers and presenters who have strong connections to Northampton, either living, working or having grown up in the town. Following the loss of funding from the University of Northampton, NLive Radio has been seeking support from organisations it has worked with to help secure its future.

Commsave has appeared on air with NLive Radio on several occasions and has previously supported the station’s Christmas gift campaign.

The second £1,000 grant has been awarded to Royal & Derngate, Northampton’s leading theatre and arts venue, following a nomination from a Commsave member.

The funding will contribute towards an upgrade to the theatre’s auditorium. Royal & Derngate has already secured support from Arts Council England’s Creative Foundations Fund and is now working to raise the remaining £100,000 required to complete the project.

Matt Goulding, Chief Executive of Commsave, said: “Supporting organisations that bring communities together is exactly what our Community Fund is here to do. NLive Radio gives local charities and community groups a voice, while Royal & Derngate brings culture and creativity to the heart of Northampton. Both play an important role in making the town a vibrant place to live, work and visit.

“It’s also brilliant to see our members putting forward causes that matter to them. Whether it’s helping a local radio station through a challenging period or supporting a much-loved theatre to improve its facilities, these grants demonstrate what can be achieved when we come together to support our local community.”

Since launching in 2022, the Commsave Community Fund has awarded more than £150,000 to charities, schools and grassroots organisations across Northamptonshire and beyond.

Previous recipients include Denton Primary School, The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation and Baby Basics Northampton, alongside many other organisations supported since the Fund was established.

Only Commsave members can nominate a cause for Community Fund support, providing members with an opportunity to help organisations and initiatives that are important to them.

Commsave Credit Union, which is headquartered in Northamptonshire, helps individuals save safely, access responsible credit and build their financial confidence. As a member-owned co-operative, Commsave exists to serve its members rather than shareholders, providing ethical, not-for-profit financial services designed to support financial wellbeing.

Find out more about Commsave and how to join:
www.commsave.co.uk

Learn more about the Commsave Community Fund:
www.commsave.co.uk/support/community-fund

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