Supermarket donations

Co-op customers in Stornoway have helped raise more than £12,000 for cystic fibrosis charity The Leanne Fund.

As the foremost cystic fibrosis (CF) charity in Scotland, The Leanne Fund works with individuals affected by CF and their families across the Highlands, Islands and Grampian to provide vital social, practical, emotional and financial assistance.

The Co-op’s Local Community Fund has allowed Co-op members to support the charity while doing the weekly shop with 1% of spend on Co-op branded products going to the charity along with money raised from carrier bag sales.

The Leanne Fund will use the cash to fund a new service – ‘On the Move’ – a programme to support young people with CF who are moving away to College or University or setting up home independently for the first time.

Chrisetta Mitchell, development manager for The Leanne Fund said: “We are so grateful to the Co-op and its Members who have raised such a phenomenal amount of money which will make such a difference to the lives of young people with CF.

The On the Move scheme aims to help young people when they are moving out of home by providing essential items such as a fridge for storing medicine, help with heating costs and a mentor/befriending service.

Mrs Mitchell said: “Moving away to College or University or setting up home for the first time can be really exciting but it can also be extremely stressful and worrying as new social relationships have to be built up. These are inevitably constrained by the nature of the illness and the need to protect against infection.”

The Co-op Community Fund shared out more than £38,000 with assistance also going to the Western Isles Association for Mental Health and the Bridge Community Centre.

Chrisetta Mitchell of the Leanne Fund with Co-op bosses

Supermarket donations to island charities

21 April 2017