Supermarket donates more than £6,500 to community organisations in Bridgnorth
More than £6,500 has been shared between nine community groups and organisations in Bridgnorth to help see them through the coronavirus lock down period.
The money, raised by members of Co-op and through the sale of plastic bags, has been donated to groups including the Friends of Alveley School, Bridgnorth Community Transport Group and BES Friends.
The donations have been raised through one per cent of purchases from own brand goods made by Co-op members going to community causes.
The Co-op is set to continue its support to these causes with another six months of funding through the Local Community Fund.
Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community and shared value at the supermarket, said: “The local community fund is now a well-established way of supporting local causes which help to make communities safer, happier, and healthier places to live.
“All the local community causes we’re connected to are at the centre of helping their communities. We’ve increased the payout to give the causes a vital cash injection to help them continue the essential work they do in the community at this time of crisis and difficulty for so many people.”
Since the scheme began in 2016, more than 21,000 causes across the UK have received more than £60 million.
The supermarket is also urging its members to help alleviate the impact of the present lock down by donating their unspent existing five percent reward to a new fund set up to support food banks, funeral hardship and community causes.
Collective
The Members’ Coronavirus Fund has been established so that the Co-op’s 4.6 million members across the UK can donate their unspent rewards, which total over £30 million, into these vital areas. The Co-op’s CEO Steve Murrells has kick-started the fund by donating 20 per cent of his salary over a three-month period.
Mr Murrells said: “One per cent of what our members spend already goes to local causes and now if they wish they can donate their five per cent personal rewards to help lessen the impact the emergency is having on millions of our communities.
“I know that many of our members want to support others at this very difficult time and our new fund makes it as simple as possible for them to contribute in their own way.
"The collective effort of our members could have a massive impact for thousands of lives in the weeks and months ahead.
“The Co-op has been supporting the communities in which it operates for 175 years and we will be still be here when this crisis is over.”
