Central England Co-op

Central England Co-op has awarded £42,000 to 36 organisations and charities following the latest round of its Community Dividend Fund. 

Charities that support both mental health and domestic abuse are among those to receive a share of the grant, which guarantees that at least one per cent of the Society’s trading profit is reinvested in local communities in a bid to help projects thrive across its trading area of 16 counties, from the Midlands to the east coast.

Derby-based Charity Rethink, which helps people with mental health issues, will use £1,050 to buy computer equipment, Variety, the Children’s Charity, has linked up with Harrington Day Nursery near Tamworth to secure a grant of £5,000 to pay for a special interactive floor that will support youngsters with disabilities with their movement, speech and language, while Sunbeams, a charity launched to support children and families impacted by autism in Great Yarmouth, has received £2,500 to help complete an outdoor area for people to play and learn.

Sue Carr, Sunbeams’ deputy manager, welcomed the fund and said: “At Sunbeams we try to promote a healthy lifestyle including exercise - being able to replace the poor grass area in our garden with a safe, durable artificial surface will enable us to provide a wide range of activities and encourage those attending the centre to take part on a regular basis.”

Central England Co-operative chief executive Martyn Cheatle said: “We are delighted that these great projects and good causes have been handed a grant for the fantastic work they do in the community.

“Community Dividend Fund grants like this showcase how being a member and continuing to support Central England Co-op helps us as a Society continue to invest and fund vital projects in the local area.”