COMMUNITY GROUPS RECEIVE SHARE OF £6,000 FROM HEART OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY

Organisers of charities and worthy causes are celebrating cash windfalls in the latest round of awards from the Heart of England Co-operative Society.

More than 70 groups which work towards improving the life or quality of life of residents across the Society's trading area of Coventry, Warwickshire, south Leicestershire and Northamptonshire have benefited from a share of £6,000 from the Society's unique Helping Hearts Awards Scheme.

Launched in 2000 the Helping Hearts Awards Scheme sees every penny of the Society's tobacco profits ploughed back in the community. It was the first scheme of its kind launched anywhere in the world and is still believed to be unique today.

Among those to benefit in the latest round of awards was Coventry City Mission, which received £500. The money was put towards the Mission's Giving Tree appeal, which aimed to provide toys for children from disadvantaged families at Christmas.

Also in Coventry the Enterprise Club for the Disabled received £250 towards a new group for adults aged 18 to 50 and the Church of the Most Holy Sacrament and St Osburg's received £200 towards a restoration appeal which includes a new heating system, rewiring and new floor.

In Nuneaton, Christians Together received £100 towards a Christmas lunch for homeless people and for those who would otherwise spend the festive period alone and the Nuneaton Academy received £100 for food for a baking competition to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Villagers in Yelvertoft, near Rugby, received £300 towards the maintenance of their skate park which is situated in the grounds of the village hall and Kilsby Pre-School, also near Rugby, received £200 towards its sensory room and soft play area. The Rugby Bareboards Trust, which provides furniture for low-income households, received £250 towards a new van.

The Bishops Itchington Sports Association received £250 to improve sports and leisure facilities in the village while co-ordinators of FROLIC - the Friends for the Renovation Of Long Itchington Church - received £400 towards church repairs.

Members of the Stanton Utd under 12s in Leicestershire received £200 towards new football shirts and the Barwell Scout Group received £100 towards paint, to decorate the outside of their hut.

The Foleshill Charity Football Club Competition, Dunlop Under 9s Football Team, Countryman Sick & Dividend Society Benevolent Fund, Weddington Primary School, Evergreens Bowling Club, Rugby United Railwaymen's Club, Berkswell School and Coundon Care Centre were just some of the many others to benefit from the latest round.

Jo Dyke, Community and Membership Adviser at the Heart of England Co-operative Society, said: "One of the best things about the Helping Hearts Awards Scheme is since its launch in 2000 it has brought us into contact with so many fantastic groups that undertake so much work on a daily basis for the benefit of thousands of people in our area.

"Much of this work goes unseen by the majority but if it weren't for the unsung heroes in our community, life would be a lot tougher and perhaps not as sociable. But with more than £636,000 of pledges going towards so many diverse community projects and events the Helping Hearts Awards Scheme plays a pivotal role of life in Coventry, Warwickshire, south Leicestershire and Northamptonshire."

To make an application pick up an application form from any one of the Society's 55 branches. Or for further information contact Jo Dyke on 02476 382331.