COMMUNITY groups in Cornwall and Devon are set to share a £20-million funding boost from the Co-op.

Following the announcement of the latest beneficiaries of the Co-op’s local community fund, 39 causes are set to benefit in the region, including Okehampton Argyle Youth Football Club, Port Isaac Village Hall and Tarka Valley Railway Line Extension, with each in line to receive several thousand pounds.

With 40% of all charities surviving on an income of less than £10,000, the Co-op scheme will provide a considerable proportion of funding for many local good causes.

When a Co-op member buys own-brand products from food stores or a funeral plan or funeral from Funeralcare, they earn a 5% reward for themselves with a further 1% going to local good causes.

By joining the Co-op’s membership scheme, shoppers can contribute to the money raised for the good causes, and they can choose which of these causes they wish to support by logging on to the Co-op’s membership website at www.coop.co.uk/membership

Area manager for Co-op food stores, Colin Olver, said: “As a community retailer we want to support the causes that matter most to Co-op members in Cornwall and Devon such as Okehampton Argyle Youth Football Club, so we would urge people to visit us online to choose who they would like to support, and then shop with us to ensure the good causes get the most out of the fund.

“Nationwide the local community fund is making a real difference to charities and good causes throughout the country. Since we launched the membership scheme in September 2016, 8,000 organisations have shared £20-million, and we are confident that this year we will raise a further £20-million to be shared amongst the latest 4,000 causes.”

The following organisations or charities in the Post area have chosen to be part of the scheme:

Tree of Hope – Matthew Penfound; Kilkhampton School PTA; Westland Countryside Stewards; Callington Bowling Club — car park; 1st Stoke Climsland Scout Group; Callington Foodbank; Sir James Smith’s Foundation Account; St Piran’s Playschool; 1st Camelford Guide Unit; Hatherleigh Pre-school; 1st Hatherleigh Brownies; Highampton Recreation and Hall Committee; Holsworthy Pre-School Playgroup; Holsworthy Amateur Dramatic Society; Holsworthy Explorer Scouts (Torridge South); Lifton Community Centre; Launceston Memory Café; St Giles on the Heath FPTA; Get Changed Theatre Company; Okehampton Argyle Youth Football Club; 2443 Squadron (Okehampton) Air Training Corps; Port Isaac Village Hall; The Perceval Institute; Port Isaac Play & Stay; Tarka Valley Railway Line Extension; St Mabyn Scout Group.