Wrexham community groups awarded thousands by Co-op

The money, which has been given to the groups by the Co-op's Local Community Fund, will help them to continue making a difference in the area.

The Caia Park Older People's Lunch Club has been given £2,718 to help them tackle food poverty and social isolation by allowing older residents to access a lunch club at the Caia Park Partnership.

The Wrexham Clothing Exchange has been handed £2,728 which they will use to provide classes aimed at improving participants' mental wellbeing.

Wrexham Girlguiding, which supports girlguiding and local communities, has been given £2,126 to further develop its green space and changing facilities.

St John Ambulance Deeside has been awarded £5,379 to help them to continue their work in encouraging young people to become 'active health citizens' and healthcare professionals by learning first aid in their communities.

The Friends of Penyffordd School has been given £3,434 to create a wellbeing garden for the children of Ysgol Penyffordd, and the Chirk AAA Bowling Club will receive £1,524 to help them encourage more people to come together and play sport.

The Community Café (Father's Place) has been awarded £3,819 to provide 'crisis food parcels' for those in need of food and to keep its foodbank running.

Rebecca Birkbeck, Co-op Director of Community and Member Participation (Image: Supplied)

Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community and member participation at Co-op, said: "Co-op is a different way of doing business - and as a business owned by you, we are committed to doing right by you and your community.

"Co-op members have a say on where they would like to see the support given in order to make a difference locally, and our Local Community Fund works to promote healthy, strong and viable communities.

"We are delighted that as a direct result of our members shopping with us, causes in towns, villages and cities across the UK will be celebrating receiving critical funding.

"We know things are increasingly tough for communities - this funding will help them with delivering the services and support that their community needs and create a real and tangible difference to local lives."

The Co-op's Local Community Fund has shared more than £58 million with over 20,500 community groups across the UK since 2020.

The benefits to community groups extend beyond funding, with 95 per cent of causes saying that they felt 'more connected with their community as a result of participating in Co-op’s Local Community Fund.'

Funding is boosted through the retailer’s ‘Winners Share It All’ prize draw, which offers 10 chances each month to win £5,000 for causes and £500 for Co-op members.

More information about the benefits of Co-op membership is available at coop.co.uk/membership.