Seven groups in Huddersfield share over £14,000 thanks to Community Dividend Fund in 2017

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 13/12/2017

Central England Co-operative can today reveal that it has helped change the lives of seven groups and charities in Yorkshire – by donating over £14,000 from its Community Dividend Fund in 2017.

A diverse range of projects were handed a funding boost during the past 12 months, with the largest single amount given being £5,000.

In total, 122 organisations spread out across 16 counties shared a funding pot of £209,000.

All Saints Catholic College, based in Huddersfield, was awarded £2,000 to pay for a range of new library books designed to help people who struggle with dyslexia and dual languages.

Susan Kaye, school librarian, said: “This grant has made such a big difference to our students.  

“The school is located in Bradley and the area is among the top 10% most deprived areas in England. “We are totally committed to improving literacy levels and the money was used to purchase a selection of fiction books that break down the barriers that can stop kids getting into reading including those with dyslexia or visual stress.”

West Yorkshire Scouts have received £2,000 to pay for new canoes as part of a bid to allow more youngsters in the area to learn.

Paul Cartwright, from the group, said: “We were extremely pleased to receive this Community Dividend Fund grant from Central England Co-operative.

“The new injection of funding has allowed us to purchase some new open canoes which are specifically designed for younger people. “

Family support charity Home-Start Kirkless has used £2,000 for a variety of items including duvets, curtains, bedding and children’s clothing.

Kerri Flanagan, scheme manager, said: “We were delighted to have been awarded £2,000 from the Community Dividend Fund to support our affordable warmth initiative, which has gone a long way to help our most vulnerable families in the coming winter months. 

“Many of our families with young children struggle to afford the most basic essential items to keep themselves warm and the grant will support the distribution of items such as coats, hats, scarves and wellington boots for the children as well as duvets and curtains for the households where parents are really struggling financially to cope and need a helping hand.”

Everyone from schools and churches to support groups and volunteer organisations benefited from the fund that guarantees that at least one per cent of the Society’s trading profit is reinvested in local communities in a bid to help projects to thrive from the Midlands to the East Coast.

Martyn Cheatle, Chief Executive of Central England Co-operative, said: “We have handed out £209,000 to projects in our communities in 2017 – with £14,500 of that being right here in Yorkshire.

 “The Community Dividend Fund reflects a key principle of our society, in that we reward the loyalty of our customers by investing in and supporting local communities.

“The scheme helps to benefit a wide variety of projects, with grants between £100 to a £5,000, which will make the communities that we serve a better place for our members to live, work and visit.

“I would like to urge all of our members to get in touch and put forward a community cause close to their heart for the Community Dividend Fund scheme.”

Notes to editors

Picture caption: Awardees were all smiles after picking up their Community Dividend Fund cheques in 2017.

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with gross sales of £927 million in 2016/17. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property investment. Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2017.

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

Rob Smyth / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140

Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop