Scotmid Co-operative announced the latest winners of its Community Connect initiative this week, with six local charities receiving a share of £50,000 funding generated from the sale of single-use carrier bags.
Launched last year, Community Connect enables Scotmid members to vote for good cause groups in their local region. Up to £15,000 funding is awarded to groups that win the regional votes.
Glasgow charity Street Connect and Inverness-based Highland Cycle Ability Centre won the £15,000 awards in the West and North regions respectively, following exciting ballots at regional AGMs in Bellshill and Dundee.
Street Connect supports disadvantaged individuals dealing with addiction problems and related life-controlling issues such as mental health, homelessness and isolation. The £15,000 will be put towards the refurbishment of its outreach centre.
Highland Cycle Ability Centre provides a cycling service aimed predominately at youngsters and young adults with physical or learning disabilities. The charity plans to use the Community Connect funding to extend its outreach programme into the wider community.
Perthshire’s Alyth Youth Partnership and West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare were awarded £7,500, while both Dundee’s Positive Steps and Glasgow East End Community Carers walked away with £2,500.
Scotmid Co-operative Chief Executive John Brodie said: “Congratulations to all of the successful charities awarded funding in the latest round of our Community Connect initiative. The outcome was decided by the votes cast by our members and it is great to be able to award all the short-listed groups with funding to enable them to continue the good work that they do.
“Our core purpose is to serve our communities and improve people’s everyday lives, so it is very pleasing to see Community Connect continue to develop into an extremely worthwhile initiative for our members and local good cause groups – bringing people together and bringing worthwhile projects to life.”
