July 21, 2016 4.06 pm This story is over 97 months old

Lincolnshire Co-op raises £86k for local health charities

Shoppers at Lincolnshire Co-op have raised over £86,000 for two health charities which will help provide vital services across the county. The money was raised by Dividend card holders between March and May for local branches of Rethink Mental Illness, a provider of health services for people affected by severe mental illness and Headway, a…
(Left to right) Lincolnshire Co-op’s Anna-Marie Clarke, Lincolnshire Co-op’s Sam Turner, Rethink’s Helen Doyle, Lincolnshire Co-op Head of Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar, Headway’s Ann-Marie Smith, Headway’s Jane Reams and Headway’s Hilary Liddle.

Shoppers at Lincolnshire Co-op have raised over £86,000 for two health charities which will help provide vital services across the county.

The money was raised by Dividend card holders between March and May for local branches of Rethink Mental Illness, a provider of health services for people affected by severe mental illness and Headway, a charity providing much needed support to people affected by brain injuries.

Each charity was given a £43,000 cheque by Lincolnshire Co-op’s Head of Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar at a presentation at Newland Pharmacy in Lincoln.

(Left to right) Rethink’s Helen Doyle, Lincolnshire Co-op Head of Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar, Headway’s Jane Reams and Lincolnshire Co-op’s Anna-Marie Clarke.

(Left to right) Rethink’s Helen Doyle, Lincolnshire Co-op Head of Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar, Headway’s Jane Reams and Lincolnshire Co-op’s Anna-Marie Clarke.

The Community Champions scheme is one of the ways that Lincolnshire Co-op’s give back to the community.

Every time a member shops at an outlet using their dividend card, a donation goes to the chosen champion at that time.

Jane Reams, Headway Lincolnshire Trustee, said: “It’s a fantastic amount and will make such a difference to the people we support and their families.

(Left to right) Rethink’s Helen Doyle, Lincolnshire Co-op Head of Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar and Headway’s Jane Reams.

(Left to right) Rethink’s Helen Doyle, Lincolnshire Co-op Head of Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar and Headway’s Jane Reams.

“Brain injuries are a hidden disability so having our logo in Lincolnshire Co-op stores has hopefully raised the profile of Headway and what we do to support people who have them.”

James Fletcher, Rethink Mental Illness Head of Corporate Partnerships, said: “This funding will do a huge amount to provide support to people in communities across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.”

The Headway charity will use the £43,000 they received to fund training, support groups and social days out for members.

Stores are currently raising money for Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire Wildlife Trusts.