Over 100 charities from across the South of England will receive £50,000 from the Southern Co-op as it marks Charity Awareness Week.
Colleagues raised £30,000 during the week – 23-29 July – with the co-op adding another £20,000. The retail store which the highest amount was given £10,000 for its charity – with the prize going to the society’s store in Bramber House, Sussex University, Brighton, which was raising money for Albion in the Community.
The funeral area which raised the most money during the month of July, the Isle of Wight, also received an extra £10,000.
The stores carried our a number of fundraising activities such as crazy hair days, gruelling static cycle rides, book sales, abseils, raffles, cakes, quiz nights, pyjama days, face painting, walking challenges, summer fetes and the chance to sit on a pink Harley Davidson.
Jessica Hughes, community investment manager at Southern, said: “Each of our stores and funeral homes has their own charity which is close to our colleagues’ hearts. So when they hold fundraising activities, they are passionate about the cause.
“We have been blown away by this year’s activities and it is really special to know this money raised will make a tremendous impact on our local communities – be it a hospital, the environment or a school project.
“We would like to say a massive thank you to all of our customers and communities who got behind the fundraisers. With their help we will make a difference.”
The local causes were chosen by colleagues and members from each branch.
The initiative forms part of the co-op’s Love Your Neighbourhood community engagement programme, which aims to address four key social themes for promoting: ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.
