£89,000 boost for community groups

NINETEEN charity and community organisations have received a £89,000 funding boost.

The money will be shared by 19 organisations, all of which are making a real difference to communities throughout the region.

These include Rochdale Connections Trust, Rochdale Hornets Sporting Foundation and the M6 Theatre Company.

This is the latest round of payouts from the fund generated by more than 168,000 members Co-op and it means overall the Co-op has invested £184,000 in 55 groups in Rochdale since the membership scheme launched in September 2016. Co-op members, who receive a five per cent reward for themselves with a further one per cent going to local causes when they buy own-brand products are encouraged to select the organisations they wish to support online. Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community engagement at the Co-op, said: “The fund is now supporting a wide variety of local organisations, from village halls and support groups to education providers and neighbourhood watch schemes, all of which are helping to make Rochdale a better, happier, and healthier place to live.”