Democracy in action as charities get share of store cash.

A pot of cash is up for grabs for Lincolnshire charities, and shoppers are being urged to nominate their favourite local group.


The Community Matters scheme, run by supermarket Waitrose, helps people get involved with supporting their local community.

The scheme has been running in Lincoln for the past 14 months, and has helped a varied range of charities including Lincolnshire Lifeboat, the Nomad Trust, and even the Lincolnshire Beekeepers’ Association.

However, as the supermarket enters its second year of the scheme, Lincoln’s Waitrose branch is calling on shoppers to put forward the names of local good causes they would like to see benefit.

Shoppers can vote for the charity they wish to see receive funding by placing a green token, which they receive at the checkout, into three labelled boxes at the exit.

Each cause is given a share of the monthly allocated donation of £1,000 proportionate to the number of green tokens they receives.

Duty manager of Lincoln’s Waitrose Simon Turner said the scheme was important to the supermarket to help support the community in which it is a part of.

“It’s important we give some money back to the local community, as each community supports its individual branch,” he said.

“The customers recommend their charity of choice, and therefore vote for the charities which are selected. Ultimately, they have complete power over where the money goes.”

Lincolnshire’s St Barnabas Hospice received a donation of £566.87 thanks to the Community Matters scheme. Fundraising co-ordinator Kay Chambers said that the hospice was very grateful.

“We’re very appreciative of the support Waitrose have given us,” she said.

“The money went towards patient care, and looking after our patients and their families. It’s a brilliant scheme, allowing the public to support charities on a local level.”

Similarly, the Lincoln MS Therapy Centre received a donation of £470. Manager Maureen Patten said: “It’s nice someone thinks about charities on a local level.

“Everyone goes for the big, national charities, but it’s nice when people like Waitrose pick charities on a local level. The money we raise goes towards keeping our therapies going.”

Local charities can contact Lincoln’s Waitrose to nominate themselves, and likewise, customers can put forward the names of organisations they would like the branch to support by filling in a form in-store.