GOOD causes across Thurrock have the opportunity to submit applications to become a community group supported by shoppers at some of the borough's Co-op stores.

The Co-op uses its branches across the country to help connect with people and projects in the area. The Co-op Local Community Fund was created to help provide support and funding to local causes.  

When you buy selected Co-op products and services, 2p for every £1 you spend goes into your Co-op Membership account. The Co-op will also give the same amount to support community organisations and local causes. 

Since 2016 Co-op members have helped raise £117 million which has been used to support around 7 million people across the UK. 

The Co-op is now calling community groups to apply for the next round of the Local Community Fund support, with applications open from today (Wednesday, 10 May).

They will be looking to support projects that:

• Bring people together to access food
• Help improve people's mental wellbeing
• Create opportunities for young people to be heard and make a difference
• Enable people to save and restore nature or tackle climate change

In Thurrock two groups of stores operate support for the scheme and each store offers an opportunity for three good causes.

One is the store on Socketts Heath, Grays, which has partnered with the store in Aveley and the other includes the stores on the High Street in Stanford-le-Hope and the one on Gardner Lane, Corringham.

You can get in touch with your local store's Co-op Member Pioneer to find out more.

At Socketts Heath that is Claire Mason who can be contacted by email at [email protected].

In Stanford and Corringham it's Victoria Jo Avery, who liaises with the local community. She can be contacted by email at [email protected].

You can find more information and apply for the Co-op Local Community Fund here: Co-op (coop.co.uk)

The deadline for applications is midnight on 11 June.

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

You can find details of previous Local Community Fund payouts via the Co-op noticeboard section of Thurrock Nub News.