Christmas comes early for groups

Local causes across Sunderland received an early Christmas present this week, when Co-op revealed a £48,000 funding boost from its members.

The money will be shared by 14 organisations, including Dawdon Youth and Community Centre, Memory Box appeal, and Easington Social Welfare Centre.

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 Sunderland since the scheme launched in September 2016 to £218,000.

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 Sunderland.

“By choosing their local cause online, our members are telling us what really matters in their communities.

“We have used this information to help us identify new groups to support throughout next year.”

When members shop with the Co-op, 1% of what they spend on selected Co-op branded products and services goes to support local causes through the Local Community Fund.

By joining the Co-op’s membership scheme shoppers can contribute to the money raised for the causes, and they can choose which of these causes they wish to support by logging on to the Co-op’s membership website at www.coop.co.uk/membership.