Co-op hands out £73,000 to good causes in north Northumberland and the Scottish Borders

Belford Primary School has been awarded nearly £2,000 by the Co-op which will be spent revamping its playground/garden.

In Belford, the Friends of Belford Primary School were awarded nearly £2,000 which will be used to revamp its playground and garden while Belford Arts Festival receives £1,822 and Belford FC gets £1,744.

On the coast, Seahouses Hostel was awarded £3,168, Seahouses & District Cancer Research & Relief Fund receives £3,535 and Busy Bees gets £3,233.27.

In Alnwick, Alexa's Animals Dog Rescue receives £3,028 and Mind and Sole gets £2,536, while Chester Bears Pre-School in Swarland was awarded £2,618.

In Wooler, the parish council was awarded £3,125, Wooler Young People’s Association gets £3,294 and 1st Wooler BP Scout Group receives £3,055.

In Berwick, 5th Berwick Guides get £2,245 and the cricket club is awarded £2,225

Cross-border environmental group Sea the Change receives £2,856.

North of the border, there are grants for Coldstream First Rainbows (£2,662), Duns Countdown 2000 Community Lights (£5,465), Co’path/Eyemouth First Responders (£3,026), Chirnside Juniors FC (£2,598), Coldstream Playgroup (£2,750), Duns Men's Shed (£4,961), Coldstream Christmas Lights (£2,937), Duns Swimming Pool (£5,234), Friends of Eyemouth Primary School (£2,963)

This is the latest round of pay outs from the local community fund, and brings the amount the Co-op members have invested in causes in this area since the scheme launched in September 2016 to £236,000.

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 Berwick.

“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.”