Southern Co-op has awarded £125,000 to support communities facing food poverty, homelessness and isolation, with 40 per cent of the funding generated entirely through member donations at checkout.
The regional co-operative's Winter Fund has distributed £75,000 to 50 charitable organisations across the South of England, with recipients selected following an open application process in November 2025.
An additional £50,000 will go to 25 food banks, funded by members who trigger a 2p donation every time they scan their card.
The Winter Fund initiative, launched in 2023 represents a key part of the retailer's response to the cost-of-living crisis.
Recipients report significant increases in demand. The charity Warming Up The Homeless, which operates across Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne, has experienced a 40 per cent rise in people seeking support, and will use its grant to provide daily hot meals, warm spaces and nurse-led health clinics for rough sleepers.
Aishah's Food Charity in Weston-Super-Mare – the town's only hot food bank, serving 250 freshly cooked meals weekly – will purchase ingredients and provide sleeping bags, tents and blankets to homeless people.
The member checkout donation mechanism creates a direct link between shopping behaviour and hyperlocal community impact, with funds directed to food banks nearest to members' most-used stores.
"At a time when retailers are navigating challenging consumer conditions, our community investment isn't just the right thing to do – it's core to our co-operative difference,” said Community Lead Rebecca Longyear,
"The member-funded element demonstrates genuine engagement – working together we’re supporting our communities investing in themselves.
Other recipients include Surplus To Supper Trust in Sunbury-on-Thames, which transforms surplus food into nutritious, culturally relevant meals for young people and those with dementia.
Southern Co-op will reopen applications for its 2026 Winter Fund in November 2026.