More than 800 good causes across Scotland are set to start the New Year with a boost to their fundraising after “bagging” a share of the money raised through carrier bag charges and sales in Co-op food stores.
Successful groups are being notified from this week (commencing 18th January) with grants of up to £2,500 being distributed over the coming weeks.
The Co-op is distributing over £750,000 after calling on Scotland’s local causes and organisations to apply for funding in order to make a difference in their community.
John McNeill, Divisional Managing Director for The Co-operative Food in Scotland, said: “From defibrillators to day care centres and schools to scout groups, as a community retailer we want to enable members, customers, colleagues and communities across Scotland to make a difference locally.
“The Co-op shares the aspiration of seeing a reduction in the number of single-use carrier bags in circulation. In addition, hundreds of local groups and organisations are set to receive a much needed funding boost – together, we are reducing, reusing, recycling and, reinvesting in our communities.”
Scotland’s Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead, said: “With the carrier bag charge we want to reduce litter and improve Scotland’s environment, but it’s great to see how it has evolved and that worthy causes are benefiting from it too. I’d like to congratulate the Co-op on its decision to distribute its funds among more than 800 local groups.”
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland said: “The Co-op is a community retailer and its scheme illustrates how the carrier bag charge is not only benefitting the environment, but it is also making a positive difference in the communities where the money has been raised.”
In addition to distributing the money raised by the requirement to charge for single-use carrier bags, The Co-op has also pledged to go further and top-up the fund with proceeds from its entire range of carriers, including sales of its bags-for-life and its new woven reusable shopping bags.
