A local Glasgow Nisa retailer is helping a young member of his community take her talent to the world stage by backing 12-year-old dancer Mirren King’s journey to the Dance World Cup finals in Dublin this July.
Raheem Ali Razaq, owner of Ali’s Nisa Royston, stepped in to support Mirren after learning about the funding needed for the international competition.
With Mirren and her mum Debbie regular visitors to the store, Raheem said he was delighted to support the aspiring dancer and help her represent Scotland on the global stage.
Raheem is supporting with £250 and has provided £100 worth of goody bags for their charity event to raise extra funds for the 11-day trip in July, which will see the young dancer - currently ranked number one in Scotland and sixth in Europe - enter solo, duo and teams categories.
Raheem, store owner of Ali’s Nisa Royston, comments: “Debbie is one of my best customers and it’s a big feat for her daughter to compete on the big stage in an international competition.
"We’d do anything to help and can’t wait to hear how she gets on at the Dance World Cup in July.”
At the heart of the community
Helping local customers and the general community is a central part of what Raheem and his team take pride in. The kind-hearted retailer has supported numerous local causes, working with Co-op Wholesale’s charity partner, Making a Difference Locally (MADL).
Through MADL funding, which is raised through a percentage of sales of Co-op own-brand products by Ali’s Nisa Royston, the team have helped many local causes, including donating over £700 to Glasgow’s Fountain Trust charity in February, which provides food packages, clean water and eye care to those in need.
Kate Carroll, Social Value Lead at Co-op Wholesale, added: “Raheem is a great example of the role local stores can play in the community.
"The Making a Difference Locally fund is all about empowering Co-op Wholesale partners to support local charities and their communities. Together, we truly want to make real difference in people's lives.”
Improving customer experiences
Instore, Raheem has been busy improving the store for local customers, too.
Supported by Co-op Wholesale, the store now boasts a recent facelift of its fascia, expanded chilled range, thriving food-to-go section and a 65-inch digital media screen at the shopfront to advertise offers to passing customers, complemented by in-store digital screens showcasing promotions and community news.
The more customers spend in-store, the more Raheem can give back to community initiatives.
Raheem adds: “We’re proud to serve our local area and the investment in our store reflects that. It’s not just about new signage – it’s about offering the right range, improving security, and creating a store our community can enjoy.
"A major highlight of the revamp is the increased presence of Co-op own-brand products throughout the store which all goes towards the donations we can make through MADL.”