Choose a local cause to support in your community

I’m proud that ‘Gorgeous Gorse Hill’ is part of the Local Community Fund, an initiative that gives back to local causes, and so grateful to Co-op Members for supporting our community project. Our planting and art make our residents feel happy and we couldn’t do that without funding from Co-op Members.

The Gorse Hill area of Stretford in Manchester is on a busy main road, so there’s lots of grey, neglected patches of grass and road safety railings. Before we started our project, it was sometimes quite depressing walking to the shop, bus stop, school, and work. The look of the area didn’t really reflect how people felt about Gorse Hill.

As a group of local residents, we focused on flowers and planting with the idea that nature more broadly, can really improve and benefit a local community. We decorated bollards and street furniture, and created art on a disused toilet block, roller shutters and internet exchange boxes to really brighten up the area for residents. We’ve also cleared litter and spruced up several smaller ‘pocket parks’ in areas that were either neglected or had fallen into disrepair.

All the funding we receive goes back into the local community. We buy tools, plants, flowers, bulbs, seeds, compost, and paint. We also hold a lantern parade every year, so we get through a lot of tissue paper!

I feel proud when people tell me that our group’s efforts has helped create a community spirit. Children love the artwork because it’s all at their eye level. I saw a young child hug one of our decorated bollards and that really made me smile.

I love the Local Community Fund because it’s so locally focused. Sometimes when you apply for funding, you’re up against big national charities that have large fundraising teams and that can be a challenge, but the Local Community Fund is designed for groups like ours.

It’s also a unique fund because we’ve been able to build a relationship with the local Co-op store, which has helped us raise awareness of our group and even collaborate with other local causes in the area. This makes a real difference to the things we can do.

Last year, more than 1.3m Co-op Members chose a cause – why not join them and help share funding in your community?  Choose a cause via the Co-op App or online and help make a difference in your community today.