24 community causes in north Northumberland get share of £23,000 Co-op fund

In total, £23,000 has been shared by 24 local causes through its Local Community Fund, money which has been raised by Co-op Members and through the sale of carrier bags.

In Northumberland the recipients are: Wooler Netball Club, Wooler FC, Wooler Cricket Club Juniors, Seahouses Girls’ Brigade, Farne Churches Youth and Family Outreach, North Sunderland Football Club, Victims First Northumbria, Bell View, Belford Arts Festival, Berwick-upon-Tweed U3A, Berwick Youth Project, Aln Valley Railway, Lionhearts and HospiceCare North Northumberland.

In Berwickshire, the recipients are: Connect Berwickshire Youth Project, Borders Children's Charity, Eyemouth United Juniors FC, Seashells Nursery, Friends of Eyemouth Primary School, 1st Chirnside Rainbows, Coldstream Men's Shed, Coldstream Community Centre and Coldstream In Bloom.

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.

“All the local community causes we’re connected to are at the centre of helping their communities. We’ve increased the payout to give the causes a vital cash injection to help them continue the essential work they do in the community at this time of crisis and difficulty for so many people.”

Since the scheme began in 2016 more than 21,000 local causes across the UK have received over £60m.

The Co-op will continue to support these causes, with another six months of funding. Co-op members can support a particular cause by logging in at www.coop.co.uk/local-causes.

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