SPAR announces winners of the UK £100k Community Cashback scheme

Leading convenience symbol group SPAR has announced the winners of the UK wide £100,000 Community Cashback scheme launched in April this year.

The SPAR Community Cashback scheme has awarded 30 grants in total to local voluntary or community organisations who need it the most from all geographical regions across the UK. Amounts awarded have been 5 x £10,000, 5 x £5,000, 5 x £2,000 and 15 x £1,000.

Consumers from all over the UK applied for a grant for an organisation they felt deserved funding, by sharing the exceptional contribution they have made to their community and what the grant would be put towards.

Remarkably, over 4,000 applications were received during the process which ran from 14 April – 4 May. Five winners of £10,000 are Bags Full of Love, Woodlanders Pre School, Northumbria Blood Bikes, Stoke & Staffordshire Downs Syndrome Social Group and Community Rescue Service.

Suzanne Dover, SPAR UK Brand and Marketing Director, said, “We have been really impressed by the number of applications received and delighted to be able to award thirty very worthy causes with a grant from the SPAR Community Cashback scheme.

“Our SPAR stores around the UK believe in nurturing their neighbourhoods and supporting the communities they serve, and we are delighted to be able to supplement their local efforts with this national campaign.

“Times are tough for charity and support groups who are looking to fundraise at the moment, and it is great that the £100,000 Community Cashback scheme can provide deserving local organisations with some extra financial help at this time.”

The voluntary organisation Northumbria Blood Bikes provides a vital out of hours transportation service to the NHS and transport anything from blood to baby milk and equipment through to medication across the entire Northeast area. Mick Redpath, Vice Chair, said: “It is a marvellous feeling to receive the Community Cashback grand prize from SPAR UK. This will enable us to continue to urgently move anything the NHS require us to do from hospitals, blood transfusion centres, care homes and doctors’ surgeries. We’re always looking for funds and have really suffered through the pandemic for fundraising opportunities. It is amazing to receive £10,000 through SPAR where I am a regular shopper.”

Stoke & Staffordshire Downs Syndrome Social Group offers children and adults with Downs Syndrome a safe, fun, and sociable place to meet with others who have Downs Syndrome.

Julia Boardman said: “We are over the moon to have been chosen and it will really help a group like ours. We are going to be able to do so much with the £10,000.”

Bags Full of Love is an organisation based in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland and its aim is to provide every child entering foster and kinship care receive a new backpack filled with new clothing, comfort, and personal care items that they can call their own.

Co-founder, Fiona Hennebry, said: “Winning this £10,000 is massive for us and means we can do so much for these vulnerable children. We are so grateful to SPAR.”

Woodlanders Pre-school provides early years care and education to children in Ashburton and the surrounding area in Devon.  It is run by a team of dedicated staff who are passionate about early years education and supporting the needs of families in the local area. Sally Down said, “It was such an amazing opportunity for us to get this grant which will go towards a new roof which we desperately need. Thank you for enabling us to keep this building open for us all to use.”

Community Rescue Service provides all aspects of search and rescue operated by volunteers from communities across Northern Ireland. Sean McCarry said: “This £10,000 will go such a long distance toward the viable work we do. We must send the volunteers out fully protected. The teams need a myriad of equipment so they can search safely and bring their loved ones home as quickly as possible. It will make a huge difference to everyone in Northern Ireland.”

SPAR stores around the UK support thousands of local charities and support groups every year. Stores are situated in the heart of the communities they serve, and with the SPAR £100k Community Cashback scheme it has given shoppers across the UK the chance to make their communities better.