Co-op gives £19,000 boost to six good causes in Caithness

GOOD causes across Caithness received an early Christmas present when the Co-op revealed a £19,000 funding boost from its members.

The money will be shared by six organisations: Thurso Town Improvements Association (£3973.18), Mount Pleasant Primary School (£3834.45), 1st Thurso Rangers (£3726.85), Lyth Arts Centre (£2580.56), Girlguiding Caithness (£2570.68) and Caithness Music Association (£2556.70).

This is the latest round of payouts from the local community fund, and brings the amount the Co-op members have invested in causes in Caithness since the scheme launched in September 2016 to £74,000.

Nationally, nearly 4500 groups are sharing over £17 million, bringing the total value of the fund since its launch to over £56 million.

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 that 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 Caithness.

“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.”

When members shop with the Co-op, one per cent of what they spend on selected Co-op branded products and services goes to support local causes through the Co-op Local Community Fund. By joining the Co-op’s membership scheme shoppers can contribute to the money raised for the causes, and they can choose which of these causes they wish to support by logging on to the Co-op’s membership website at www.coop.co.uk/membership

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