Frome community groups land over £1,500 from the Co-operative

DONATIONS amounting to over £1,500 from The Co-operative’s Community Fund have helped three Frome community groups to continue their good work in the area.

Oakfield School Fund-raisers landed £1,000 to help them produce electricity using bicycle power, Frome Society for Disabled Artists was given £435 towards the rent of a property, and Frome Festival scooped £400 to run a workshop during the festival.

The community fund is created by members of The Co-operative Group who elect to donate all, or part, of their twice-yearly dividend payments directly to the scheme. The funds are then shared with local community projects and groups across the country.

Gareth Dempster from The Co-operative’s membership team for Frome said, “Because our members own the business, they get a share in any of the profits we make. It’s a scheme we’re very proud of, not only because it gives us the chance to thank members for shopping with us, but because so many people choose to give something back to local communities.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Co-operative members receive a payment twice a year based on the points they earn when they trade at any of the group’s businesses, including The Co-operative Food, Travel, Pharmacy and Funeralcare, as well as The Co-operative Bank, Smile and The Co-operative Insurance.

Gareth said, “There is around £600,000 available in this region, each year, from the community fund, and we welcome applications from local groups and projects for £100 to £2,000.”

Community fund application forms are available online at www.co-operative.coop/communityfund or by phoning 0844 262 4001. Awards are allocated by local Co-operative members’ committees, based on a set of values and principles such as social responsibility and caring for others.