SHOPPERS at the Sockets Heath Co-op in Stifford Clays have raised more than £5,000 for local causes supported by the store.

Every year Co-op stores select three charities that customers can choose to help through the Co-op Local Community Fund.  

When Co-op members buy selected Co-op products and services, 2p for every £1 spent goes into their Co-op Membership account from which they nominate one of the chosen charities. The Co-op will also give the same amount to support community organisations and local causes. 

Since 2016 Co-op members have helped raise more than £117 million which has been used to directly support around seven million people across the UK. 

Claire Mason, the Co-op's community-link 'Member Pioneer' at Socketts Heath, which partners with the store in Aveley regarding the fund, has announced Aveley Village Community Forum received £1,714,28, Colourful Beginnings £1,684.09 and the locally-based Reach out for Mental Health charity £2,301.64 - a total of £5,700.01.

The organisations will collect their cheques at a special celebration of the Local Community Fund on Thursday, 16 November at Co-op Funeral Care on Hathaway Road, Grays.

At that event, details of the three new nominated charities will be unveiled.

Co-op Membership helps support Co-op's national charity partners and Local Community Fund causes. See www.coop.co.uk/membership.