Shoppers from all over the UK were once again given the opportunity to apply for a grant to support a local organization or charity that has made an exceptional contribution to their community. To ensure wide coverage, these grants were available for all regions across the UK, with a maximum amount of £10,000 per grant and a total fund of £100,000.
The response to this initiative was overwhelming, with over 13,500 applications received during the application period from 1 Feb to 15 March – exceeding our initial target by 8,500 applications.
The winners of the £10,000 grants were as follows:
- Ty Hapus CIO, representing AF Blakemore’s region
- Rainbow Hub, representing James Hall’s region
- Fox & Friends, representing CJ Lang & Son’s region
- Air Ambulance NI, representing Henderson Group’s region
In recognition of exceptional community work, Appleby Westward awarded 18 local recipients a portion of their £20,000 donation fund.
Ty Hapus
The overall winner was Coast Medic, a Cornish charity that provides professional medical care to casualties at sea. They received a grant of £2,250. Additionally, the Bridport community group, Stepping Out Cancer Rehabilitation Group, was awarded £2,000 towards their invaluable services.
Suzanne Dover, Spar UK’s brand and marketing director, expressed her delight at the overwhelming response to the 2023 Community Cashback scheme, highlighting the thirty deserving local causes that were chosen to receive grants. She emphasized Spar’s commitment to nurturing neighborhoods and supporting the communities it serves, stating that this initiative serves as another step towards that goal. Dover emphasized the importance of providing extra financial support to deserving local organizations, particularly during these challenging times.
To further support the chosen charities, the top 100 shortlisted organizations will be featured on Spar’s social media channels and website for a month, providing them with valuable exposure.
The 2023 campaign is receiving support from Spar UK and all five Spar RDCs, including additional PR efforts, digital amplification opportunities, and increased promotion in Spar stores through POS displays and Spar Radio.