More than £8,000 has been raised by Co-op colleagues and customers on the Isle of Wight to be shared between 7 separate charities and good causes.
The money was raised through collection pots and fundraising activities at the Southern Co-op stores and will be rounded up to make sure each charity receives at least £1,000. The funds raised will be shared between 2021 local partners of The Co-operative Food stores on the Isle of Wight.
The causes benefitting from the funding are: RSPCA IOW, Sophie Rolf Trust – KissyPuppy, Suicide Prevention & Intervention (operations currently on hold), The Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum, Wessex Cancer Trust, and West Wight Nursery.
Holly Bramble, Community Lead at the regional, independent co-operative, said:
“Each of these local causes makes a difference in their local community. It is incredibly important to us, our colleagues and our members to make sure we support them in their efforts – whether that is a local school working to be more sustainable, or a charity which cares for people in need.
“So, we’d like to thank every shopper who put their pennies in the collection pots and every colleague who organised a fundraising activity. It’s been a tough few years but it is wonderful to see people continuing to support each other where they can.”
More than £2,800 was raised at stores in Freshwater, Rookley and Cowes for KissyPuppy – The Sophie Rolf Trust which is continuing to provide support to children on the Isle of Wight suffering from life-shortening conditions after the death of Sophie in 2013.
Aaron Rolf, Sophie’s father, has said:
“Wow! That’s an amazing amount, it really is. Thank you to each and every person that helped.
“Every single penny raised is used to ensure we are able to continue what we are doing in our partnership with Mountbatten Hospice; whether that is the ongoing costs for the hospice facilities for children and their families, the bereavement service we fund that is open to any and all, the Play Nurses equipment or the summer and Christmas parties that enable children and their families to make some wonderful memories… to name but a few things.
“No costs are deducted for staffing etc – myself, Gemma, and friends and family freely give their time to ensure we can give every available choice to Island families. Thank you so much for this amazing amount.”
To find out more about local funding and other support available, visit www.neighbourly.com/SouthernCoop/campaigns.
