Co-op customers encouraged to donate to local Men’s Shed

The Men’s Shed is one of three Lang Toun based charities that can benefit from the store’s Local Community Fund, having been selected as a recipient in recent weeks.

Every time members buy selected Co-op branded products and services, two pence for every £1 spent goes to support community organisations and local causes. A portion of the money received through bag for life sales will also be donated.

Keith Watson, customer pioneer, said that the community fund was a way for the grocery store chain to get back to their community roots.

He explained: “When the Co-op was first started in 1844, the whole idea was that it was to be a co-operative. Over the years it became like a Tesco or a Sainsbury’s, it just became a supermarket.

“Now the Co-op is trying to re-establish its roots and trying to become part of the local community again”.

Dave Stewart, chair of Kirkcaldy and District Men’s Shed, welcomed the support.

He said: “When we got the Ravenscraig Park building it was in a dilapidated state. Most of our efforts so far have been on refurbishing it. We’re about halfway or two-thirds of the way through renovating it.”

“We want the Men’s Shed to be entirely self-financing. We can’t do that while we still need funding to finish the refurbishment work.

But after that I want the Shed to be entirely self-financing. We can do it, we’ve done the numbers. We shouldn’t have to be going around putting our hands out looking for grants .”

“We appreciate the Co-op coming to our aid at the moment because we are still in the refurbishment phase and all the money we can get will go towards it.”

It’s expected that the Local Community Fund will pay out in the autumn - with Nourish and Alzheimer Scotland’s Kirkcaldy location also looking to benefit from donations.

Kirkcaldy has three Co-op stores and one Co-op Funeralcare service. Customers can become Donations can be accrued at any Co-op location.