Lincolnshire Co-op is sharing £161,428, raised from its Community Champions scheme, among 14 youth groups.
Beneficiaries include YMCA, recreational grounds and youth projects, which have been offering support with the effects of the cost-of-living crisis and the aftermath of the pandemic. They focus on providing local young people with safe, neutral spaces to unwind, engage with their peers outside of school, and access support in all areas from qualified youth workers.
The Community Champions scheme combines the efforts of members, colleagues, and customers, to donate thousands of pounds each year. A contribution is made each time a member shops with their dividend card, colleagues organise fundraising, and customers donate their change through collection boxes in Lincolnshire Co-op outlets.
The scheme, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, has so far raised £4.5m and supported over 2,400 groups.
The NW Counselling Hub (NWCH), which offers counselling, training, and provides a safe and supportive environment for children, young people and families, has received just over £1,662.
A spokesperson said: “We are proud to be able to carry out the work that we do. This funding will assist us in being able to continue providing children and young people with effective, invaluable support with their mental health, wellbeing, and counselling, and help to build towards a more stable, resilient, and positive future.”
Danielle Budworth, senior community co-ordinator at Lincolnshire Co-op, said: “We’re so thankful and grateful to all our members, colleagues and customers for helping to raise such large sums of money for local youth groups. It has been great to see so many people get involved.”
The following groups received funding: Acts Trust – Energise Youth Clubs – £10,864.52; Bardney Gateway Centre – £3,766.08; Barnetby Youth Club – £815.21; Bearded Fishermen Charity Youth Club – £3,043.60; Broughton Youth Club – £1,001.99; Cleethorpes Community Sport & Education (The Trin) – £1,500; Climb 4 – £2,617.85; Clipstone Welfare Youth Club – £1,381.63; DIVSS (Diverse Initiative Varied Safe Space) – £5,670.23; Gallows Close Centre – £828.68; Good Hope Communities Hunstanton Youth Club – £282.11; Gosberton Youth Centre – £1,523.42; Holbeach Hub/Youth Groups – £6,753.32; Holton le Clay Parish Council – £1,758.60; Horizon Youth Zone – £5,697.16; Kirton Lindsey Youth Club – £1,029.62; Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance – £670.10; Mareham Le Fen – £2,468.96; Market Rasen New Life Centre Youth Club Projects – £3,792.32; Mosaic Youth Hub – £4,091.26; N W Counselling Hub – £1,662.09; Oasis Community Church – £1,712.41; Phoenix Youth Provision Whittlesey – £926.94; Positive Futures Lincolnshire County Council – £21,957.12; Rainbow Youth North Lincs – £2,723.51; Roadhog Youth Project – £3,969.10; Route 96 (Generations Church) – £2,865.44; Ruskington Youth Centre – £2,820.19; SNACC Youth Clubs Christ Church Newark – £3,066.93; Spilsby Recreation Ground – £1,370.59; St Giles Youth Group Bladerton Newark – £3,585.24; Sturton by Stow Youth Club – £3,932.51; Storehouse Church Alford Youth Group – £2,716.50; The Warren Step out and shout groups – £460.25; Think2Speak – £3,217.88; Up for Yorkshire The YO8 Youth Club – £768.82; Warsop Youth and Community – £823.20; Westcliff Community Works (Be-Apt) – £3,192.85; Wragby Youth Centre Trust/Lincolnshire Boys & Girls Clubs – £2,869.79; Wrangle Youth Centre – £2,630.07; YMCA Humber Youth Club – £1,887.65; YMCA Lincolnshire – £10,404.38; YMCA Newark & Sherwood – £7,511.42; YMCA St Giles Project – £6,602.86; Zest Theatre – £8,193.98