Co-op customers in Ross-shire ring up cash boost for local groups
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CUSTOMERS at two food stores have played a vital role in delivering much-needed funding for community groups in their area.
The Co-op’s local community fund held a celebration payout to three groups thanks to members at the Beauly and Muir of Ord Co-op stores.
They were the the Beauly Cares Community Garden, which received £6074.08, the Highland Mindfulness Group, which was handed £5282.22, and Homestart East-Highland, which received £4993.85.
The Beauly Community Garden, which provides a safe space for people to socialise and keep active growing flowers and vegetables, has been created for accessibility and inclusion. The funding will be used for some vital improvements.
Highland Mindfulness, a non-profit organisation providing courses to the community to help improve mental well-being, continued running classes online throughout the pandemic and has helped many people deal with stress, loss and uncertainty.
Homestart, a UK charity providing support to disadvantaged families and young children in their homes, has been a lifeline to many during the pandemic.
Rosie Williams, member pioneer for Beauly and Muir of Ord Co-op stores, explained that when customers become members,1p from every £1 of their spend is donated back to the chosen causes.
“We have a really good membership rate in Beauly and Muir so we always raise a good amount,” she said.
Any group can apply to the local community fund as long as they are a local group or project and fit within the Co-op’s values of tackling food poverty, improving mental well-being and youth enterprise.
“We are delighted to have been able to support these three local groups this year,” she said. “Each one has been working extremely hard during the Covid-19 crisis to help people in our community and we hope this funding will help them continue to do so.
“It’s also lovely to be able to share with our customers the vital role they have played in this fundraising and we would like to thank them for their continued support. Beauly and Muir of Ord are amazing communities and we are very proud to be part of them.”
Next year’s chosen causes are Beauly Shinty Club, 1st Beauly Rainbows and Muir of Ord Rovers.
“We are really excited about having three very local groups which we will be able to work with more now that the Covid restrictions are lessening and hopefully we can raise even more for them in the year ahead,” Ms Williams added.
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