£5,000 award is a lifeline for young carers

A charity supporting carers as young as eight years old is among the latest winners of Co-op’s Winners Share It All monthly prize draw. In total the scheme will put £450,000 into great local causes, chosen by you.

Ealing and Hounslow Young Carers Project, run by Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, offers a lifeline to hundreds of young people across west London who look after family members with illness, a disability, mental health issues or substance misuse.

The pressure on these children can be extreme, and lead to depression, anxiety and isolation from friends.

But thanks to its weekly youth clubs, the Young Carers Project is providing young people aged from eight to 18 with some vital respite from their caring role, as well as the chance to meet others in a similar situation.

“Some of our young carers have little or no social interaction outside school,” says a spokesperson for the project. “They often feel tired and stressed, and maybe don’t find any time for themselves.

“Giving them a chance to meet other young people and have fun is vital for their wellbeing.”

The Winners Share It All prize draw is designed to help boost Co-op’s existing support for thousands of grassroots causes, and these winning groups are just some of the 2,500 Local Community Fund causes that Co-op members support throughout the year.

In total, the Local Community Fund has supported nearly 40,000 projects since 2016, raising £108million.

The charity was just one of 10 inspirational projects to have each won £5,000 in June as part of Co-op’s Winners Share It All prize draw.

Each month until December, 10 Co-op members will be picked to win the cash prize for their chosen Local Community Fund cause, along with £500 for themselves.

Other winners in June included Ballycastle Church Action in Northern Ireland, which helps combat isolation among elderly people in the community.

East Cheshire Deaf Children's Society has also been awarded £5,000, as has Lancing and Sompting Churches Food Bank, which provides food for the people in its West Sussex community who need it most.

Another recipient of Co-op’s Winners Share It All prize draw is Stockport-based project Autisk. The initiative helps families who have children and young people with disabilities and educational needs. It provides social groups, activities, events, workshops, signposting, face-to-face and online support, as well as food poverty support.

Meanwhile, Ayrshire Recording Services in Scotland seeks to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of visually impaired people in its community, including providing talking newspapers.

“We’re delighted and overwhelmed to receive the £5,000,” said a spokesperson for the Kilmarnock charity.

“We plan to upgrade our studio equipment to ensure we continue delivering high-quality services and foster a stronger, more connected community.”

Getting vital funds to causes like these can’t be done without your help, though. Each of these winning projects was chosen by a Co-op member, and by taking part, you have the chance to start changing local lives with your next shop.

Simply choose your Local Community Fund cause via the Co-op website or app. Then spend £5, either in-store or online at shop.coop.co.uk.

Scan your membership card at the till and you will automatically be entered that month for a chance to win big for you and your community*. Members get additional entries for every £5 spent.

Non-members can also take part by joining for just £1 via the Co-op app.

“We’re delighted we have won this money,” added the Young Carers Project spokesperson.

“It will be used to deliver more respite sessions for young carers in the local area. It'll be a chance for them to have a break from their caring role, meet other young people in similar situations and have some much-needed fun.”

Find out more at coop.co.uk/communities

_{*UK, 18+. Co-op members only, 10/04/24 – 31/12/24. Co-op Group food stores and web purchases only, excludes independent co-operatives. Full T&Cs at coop.co.uk/terms/winners-share-it-all}