£950 raised for Devon causes

Local causes are set to benefit from a week of fundraising by retail colleagues across Devon.

Southern Co-op challenged its colleagues to raise as much money as possible for their local charity partner and they smashed it by raising £950.

The amount raised in Devon was added together with all of the Southern Co-op’s retail stores and funeral homes in the south of England to make a final total of £30,000.

The annual Charity Awareness Week ran from 23 to 29 July and the retail store which raised the most money was given an extra £10,000 for its charity. The winners were Southern Co-op’s store in Bramber House, Sussex Uni, in Brighton who were raising money for Albion in the Community.

There was also an additional prize of £10,000 for the funeral area that raised the most money collectively throughout July, and this was the Isle of Wight.

Activities ranged from big to small with fundraising ideas including crazy hair days, gruelling static cycle rides, book sales, abseils, raffles, cakes, quiz nights, pyjama days, face painting, walking challenges, summer fetes and even the chance to sit on a pink Harley Davidson.

Jessica Hughes, Community Investment Manager at Southern Co-op, 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 have been chosen by colleagues and members at each branch as part of Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’.

‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ addresses four key social themes for promoting: ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.

Local causes to benefit in Devon were Bow Recreation Group CIC and Exmouth RNLI.

The Southern Co-op retail stores that took part included Bow’s Burston Cross Road, Exmouth’s Exeter Road and Exeter stores in Alphington Road, Beacon Lane and Brixington Parade.

To find out more about Southern Co-op’s commitment to making a difference, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/makingadifference/