Co-op supports charitable causes

Tuesday 17 June 2014

A foundation that supports art education in primary and secondary schools has received funding from the Co-op’s Helping Hands fund.

The Creative Arts Alliance at the Harbour Gallery in St Aubin has received £345 to, buy three new sewing machines to provide art-textile opportunities for Island children.

Gallery owner Pat Robson said: “Everyone at the foundation is overjoyed to have received this generous donation. The younger generation rarely get the chance to experience the fun that textiles can bring, the donation will really help us to unleash their creativity.”

The Channel Islands Co-Operative Society’s Helping Hands initiative aims to provide assistance to as many charitable causes across the bailiwiks, rather than larger single donations to fewer charities. It reflects the society’s underlying principles of co-operative trade where profits not only remain in the Channel Islands to be reinvested but a proportion is given to a wide range of community initiatives.

Other Jersey recipients this year include The Stroke Association, which received £1,500 to brand an ambulance with a life-saving message, Les Landes School which got new gardening equipment for the school’s nature garden and Friday Fun Mothers and Toddlers will benefit from £300 worth of new toys, role play equipment and mats.

A total of £16,000 has been given to 15 charities, youth groups, schools, church congregations and social-welfare care providers in Guernsey and 20 in Jersey. There were 98 applicants for a share of the donations.

Jim Plumley, the Co-op’s Chief Commercial Officer, said every year it was difficult to choose who should receive support.

“We always want to help as many local initiatives as possible being a local community retailer in the Channel Islands. Every year there are so many deserving causes in need of help and we try to understand from each applicant how the money will be used to the maximum benefit of islanders,” he said.