A.F. Blakemore has launched a Community Cashback Grant scheme across its SPAR stores to thank groups who are there for vulnerable people during the Covid-19 crisis.

The company is giving away £30,000 to charities, community groups and good causes across its trading area to help, voted by the public on a weekly basis.

Group marketing director Sarah Ellis commented: “A.F. Blakemore has played a key role in local communities throughout the coronavirus pandemic – supplying essential goods and services via its SPAR stores, supporting RVS’s Volunteer Responders scheme and helping local councils feed vulnerable people via its foodservice operation.

“At the same time the business has received a lot of great support back from local communities, and we want to say thank you to everyone doing great things for others. We hope that our Community Cashback grants go a small way to helping people in need.”

The Community Cashback initiative was first launched by fellow SPAR wholesaler the Henderson Group earlier this year before being adopted by A.F. Blakemore this summer.

The Community Cashback Grant scheme was launched across AFB’s SPAR Facebook pages on 15th June and will close for applications on 9th July.
Every Monday 12 finalists will be announced on A.F. Blakemore’s website and SPAR Facebook pages, and the public will be able to vote for the group they want to receive the top grant of £1,000 in their region.

In each region the group that receives the most public votes will receive £1,000, with second place receiving £500 and third £375.

At the end of the four weeks, there will be 48 winners in total – organisations who wish to apply for a grant must fill in a simple application form.