It’s easy to make a difference

Co-op Members can make great things happen in their community as they shop

e all want to make sure we’re W doing our best to support our local community and give back. But between work commitments, family events and all those important everyday activities, it’s hard to find time for yourself, let alone for others, because life has a habit of getting in the way, even when we least expect it.

But across the UK, there are so many local charities out there doing brilliant work every day that really need our help. Charities like Dundee Bairns, who help support local children each year. While thousands of children across the UK rely on free school meals to get through the day, what happens during the school holidays? Dundee Bairns have helped to come up with a solution with their “Fun and Food” programme, which provides free meals throughout the holidays to kids who usually receive them at school. David, from Dundee Bairns, says, “In some schools, a lot of children were on free school meals but, during the school holidays, there was no provision. So we set up the ‘Fun and Food’ programme. In the last two years, we’ve provided 75,000 meals. And we do all of that through funding from local charities and the Co-op.”

This brilliant work is really making a difference to the local community in Dundee, and it relies on donations from charities and local schemes. Thankfully for Co-op Members, it couldn’t be easier to help fund important work like this in communities across the UK – because local charities like Dundee Bairns are supported through Co-op Membership. When a member buys selected Co-op branded products and services, they get 5% back into their online Membership account for themselves, plus 1% goes to a cause in their community that they choose.* So, not only are they getting something for themselves, they’re also able to support brilliant causes – meaning it’s much easier to help give back, however busy life gets.

Ibrahim, a Co-op Member from Dundee, tells us, “I go into stores and use the card, but I had no idea that 1% comes to charities like this. It’s really easy to just go online, choose your charity then pick which one you want, I didn’t realise it was that simple.”

Co-op Members in Dundee have helped to make a huge difference by choosing Dundee Bairns, but there are thousands of other causes doing brilliant work across the UK that Co-op Members can support – choose yours today.