Early Christmas present for local causes

LOCAL causes in the Cynon Valley have received an early Christmas present after Co-op revealed a £7,000 funding boost from its members.

The money will be shared by three organisations, all of which are making a difference to communities.

These include Drama With Laura Classes, Women’s Aid RCT, and Showcase Sioegerdd.

This is the latest round of payouts from the local community fund, and brings the amount the Co-op members have invested in causes in the Cynon Valley since the scheme launched in September 2016 to £51,000.

Nationally, nearly 4,500 groups are sharing over £17m, bringing the total value of the fund since its launch to over £56m.

Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community and shared value at the Co-op, said: “The local community fund is now a well-established way of supporting local causes who help to make communities safer, happier, and healthier places to live, and we’re delighted to be able to support such a wide range of local groups as they help to improve wellbeing in the Cynon Valley.

“By choosing their local cause online, our members are telling us what really matters in their communities, and we have used this information to help us identify new groups to support throughout next year.

“Feedback from our own Community Wellbeing Index – which highlights the areas where communities can benefit from support – has shown us that we should be focused on protecting and improving community spaces, helping people reach their full potential by developing their skills, and promoting health and wellbeing.”