THREE local causes will receive a share of more than £23,000 raised by a Helensburgh supermarket and its customers.
In the fifth round of the Co-op’s Community Fund, a total of £23,443.31 will be split among the Friends of Hermitage Park (£8,276.82), Helensburgh and Dunbartonshire Parkinson’s Support Group (£8,210.56), and Helensburgh Art Hub (£6,955.93).
The initiative, which uses a percentage of customers’ spend on Co-op branded products, has seen more than £100,000 donated to charities and community groups in the area so far, including Fun First, Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun Pipe Band, Helensburgh and Lomond Autism, Parklands School, The Tower Digital Arts Centre and many others.
Ela Latosi, team manager at the Sinclair Street branch of the Co-op, said she was “proud and grateful to be part of such an amazing project”.
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Store manager David MacDonald said: “It’s been a tough year in unprecedented times and I would like to thank all the Co-op colleagues for their hard work.
“Also a big thank you to the Helensburgh people for their support this year and to the Helensburgh community for raising so much money to be re-invested in our local groups when they need it most.”
Fiona Baker, chair of the Friends of Hermitage Park, said: “The Friends are incredibly grateful for the support of the Co-op and customers.
“The funds received will help us make great improvements to the kitchen garden and we hope it will become a thriving community with people learning new skills and making new friends.
“The pandemic has really shone a light on how important green space is for our general wellbeing. Gardening is well known to have therapeutic benefits and all are welcome at Hermitage Park.
“Having the bothy and potting shed facilities will make a huge difference. We look forward to building them and hope everyone will feel welcome and many local people will benefit from the generous Co-op Community Fund donation.
Karlyn Marshall, founder of Helensburgh Art Hub, said: “This support from the Co-op and the community has been invaluable in helping us to run online workshops as well as with groups and charities such as Jigsaw Cornerstone, Helensburgh and Lomond Autism, Garelochhead Station Trust and Jean’s Bothy.
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“The funding has also supported us to provide art materials throughout lockdown which we delivered locally for free. This was crucial to many of our customers giving them access to materials to take part in our workshops as well as enabling their own creative projects.
“The contributions will also enable us to deliver a range of workshops in 2021 and continue to provide art materials for our community. We have a whole range of online workshops planned for next year and we look forward to being able to run workshops in Helensburgh Art Hub again."
Fiona Donald, from the Helensburgh and Dunbartonshire Parkinson’s Support Group, said: “The community fund will allow us to continue to deliver our fitness and mindfulness sessions for people affected by Parkinson’s, their families, friends and carers.
“We will be able to add to our current classes and introduce new classes to provide a variety of different activities.
“Our goal is to improve the health and wellbeing of anybody affected by Parkinson’s in Helensburgh and Dunbartonshire.
“Thanks to the Co-op, the Community Fund and members who all contributed to support our cause.”
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