More than £12,000 has been raised by London and Surrey co-operative colleagues and customers in 2019 for local causes close to their hearts.
Every year, each convenience store part of Southern Co-op, partners with a special local cause chosen by colleagues.
The Co-operative Food store colleagues then have a year to hold fundraising events in aid of the cause.
In 2019, 16 different causes were chosen by the London and Surrey colleagues including Brightwells Gostrey, Caterham Children’s Centre, Epsom Medical Equipment Fund, Friends of Chislehurst and Walden recreation Grounds, Friends of Stepgates School, Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre, Jackanory Pre-school, Little Oaks Pre-school, National Autistic Society’s Lorna Wing Centre Bromley, Sayes Court Primary School, Shooting Star Chase, St Mary’s C of E Junior School, Stripey Stork, The Children’s Trust, The Marlborough School Foundation, and Woodlands Academy.
Fundraisers for the charities were held by colleagues at 19 stores including Addlestone’s Church Road, New Haw Road, Banstead’s Nork Way, Bromley’s Holmsdale Road, Camberley’s Frimley Road, Chertsey’s Fordwater Road, Chislehurst’s White Horse Hill, Chobham’s Bagshot Road, Ealing’s Uxbridge Road, Farnham’s Farnborough Road, Oxted’s Station Road, Reigate’s London Road, Rowledge’s The Square, Shirley’s Orchard Way, Sidcup’s The Oval, Staines’s Laleham Road, West Ewell’s Ruxley Lane, Wimbledon’s Ridgeway, and Wrecclesham’s Wrecclesham Road.
Jessica Hughes, Community Investment Manager at Southern Co-op – the regional, independent co-operative, said: “Each of our stores has a budget which they can donate to special projects but this total is separate. Every penny has been raised by colleagues and customers who want to help the store’s current charity partner.
“A lot of the causes are really small and may simply need help letting people know what they do. Then others have been running for years supporting hundreds of residents in their time of need.
“We are so proud of our colleagues who work tirelessly to give back to these causes. Thank you.”
After a year of awareness days, fundraisers and challenges, 14 of the London and Surrey stores are now in search of their next charity partner. Local causes are invited to apply to become a charity partner in 2020-21 as part of Southern Co-op’s ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ programme.
The programme aims to create greener, safer, healthier or more inclusive neighbourhoods.
The stores looking for nominations are Addlestone’s Church Road, Bromley’s Holmsdale Road, Chertsey’s Fordwater Road, Chislehurst’s White Horse Hill, Chobham’s Bagshot Road, Ealing’s Uxbridge Road, Farnham’s Farnborough Road, Oxted’s Station Road, Reigate’s London Road, Rowledge’s The Square, Shirley’s Orchard Way, Staines’s Laleham Road, West Ewell’s Ruxley Lane, and Wimbledon’s Ridgeway.
