Vital £100,000 boost to help good causes in Mansfield ride out pandemic

Funding has been given to many good causes in Mansfield that are helping to aid the community

The Co-op has made a new payment of £101,627.03 to 57 Mansfield causes, taking the total amount awarded across the local area to £175,354.06 this year.

The retailer’s ‘Local Community Fund’ is generated by members, who are encouraged to pick a local cause to support from a selection that are helping to build stronger, more resilient communities.

Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community and shared value at the Co-op, said: “The fund supports grassroots projects that our members really care about. And right now, these causes need support more than ever before.

"We want to help Mansfield communities to share, co-operate and make a positive difference to their wellbeing.

“And it’s such an amazing privilege to announce that £15 million raised by our members in total has now been shared, helping communities and lives across the country at a time when they need it most.”

Earlier this year, the Co-op approached the 4,500 causes in line for the fund, to understand the impact of Covid-19.

The biggest survey of its kind for the Co-op, 81 per cent of those who responded said that the funding was helping them respond to the pandemic – at a time where the majority had also experienced a decrease in funding from other sources.

Ms Birkbeck continued: “We know that it has been an incredibly challenging time for local causes, as support decreases and demand increases.

"We’re incredibly grateful to our members and colleagues who have made it possible to make this contribution.

"Two million members have now selected a cause to support since the ‘Local Community Fund’ began in 2016, which is a real landmark for us.

“We encourage everyone to engage with the amazing groups and organisations on their doorstep, to help them weather the storm. We’re hoping this route to funding will make an even bigger impact in 2021.”

Next year, the fund will be supporting causes that support fairer access to food, mental wellbeing services, education and employment for young people in their communities.