Community support from store

A CITY store is opening itself up to the community by launching two new initiatives.

John Lewis in Queensgate Shopping Centre has just opened a meeting room which is available for city charities and voluntary organisations to use for free.

It is on the ground floor of the store, with easy access to Westgate, and can accommodate up to 16 people.

Emma Valerio, community liaison co-ordinator, said: “In the current economic climate, finding suitable meeting space can be costly for charities and voluntary organisations, so we are delighted to be able to offer a purpose-made meeting room to accommodate up to 16 people.”

The move comes as the store has launched a new charitable scheme called Community Matters where it will split a donation from the store worth £3,000 between three community groups every three months.

The donation will come in the form of store products, employee volunteer time or money.

Customers will decide how much each good cause receives by using a token, given to them when they buy items at the Placeto Eat, to vote for the group they would like to support.

Each charity will receive a share of the donation according to the proportion of their vote. The first groups to receive support will be Little Miracles, Friends of Chernobyl’s Children and New Ark Play Association.

For more information about Community Matters or to book the new meeting room, call Emma Valerio on 01733 294190.