LOUDWATER, Buckinghamshire, UK – Costa Coffee is helping make a difference across the United Kingdom this Winter, by offering vital support to 60 exceptional charities as part of its Community Grants scheme. With donations totalling £33,000, the company is giving a little lift to crucial causes in the communities around its stores.
At the heart of hundreds of towns and cities across the United Kingdom, Costa Coffee is passionate about uplifting the local areas they serve. That’s why it set up its Community Grants programme in 2021, giving team members from across their business the chance to nominate causes in their area to receive a donation in support of their work.
In 2023 alone, Costa Coffee is proud to have supported 60 amazing local charities, donating over £30,000. These funds have been gratefully received by the charities and community groups, who are keen to put the funds to significant use in their own unique ways, in support of their local communities.
Commenting on the programme, Costa Coffee’s Community Co-ordinator Jo Jennings, said: “All of us at Costa Coffee want to do our bit to help the local charities that are dedicated to making their communities a little better for everyone. We are incredibly pleased to be able to donate to these amazing causes who are each having a huge and positive impact in our towns and cities across the United Kingdom.”
One of the community groups who received a crucial £500 donation is the Grimsby Wolves Female Ice Hockey Team. Costa Coffee’s Community Grant has provided the sports team with additional funds which they plan to use for beginner sessions to encourage newcomers to ice hockey, as well as additional training sessions for the team prior to the upcoming 2023-2024 season.
Nikki Burnett, Assistant Captain and Team Treasurer, Grimsby Wolves Female Ice Hockey Team, comments: “We are so grateful to be nominated for the Costa Coffee Community Grant as it acknowledges what we are trying to achieve in the local community. Our aim is to promote health, fitness and wellbeing, by providing an opportunity for girls and women to become part of an inclusive team in a fast-paced exciting sport. Unfortunately, ice hockey is a financially demanding sport, so we appreciate Costa Coffee’s much-needed support.”
Another astounding charity who received a Community Grant is the Norfolk Blood Bikes, a volunteer-run charity who provide specialist out-of-hours emergency courier service, free of charge to Norfolk’s NHS Hospitals and East Anglia Air Ambulance. The charity will be using the donation towards costs for fuel and maintenance of their fleet, with the £500 enabling the Norfolk Blood Bikes to deliver a week’s worth of blood to the Air Ambulance at Norwich Heliport.
Paul Southwell, Deputy Chairman, Norfolk Blood Bikes, comments: “Being nominated for the Costa Coffee Community Grant means a lot to our volunteers and helps them feel that their efforts are being noticed. After all, many of our riders and drivers rely on the Costa Express machines when they are refuelling their vehicles and getting their caffeine fix to keep going through the night. This donation will help us, to help our local heroes in the NHS save lives.”
Additionally, the Children’s Hospices Across Scotland is an incredible charity who will be using the £500 Community Grant to invest in a month of ‘clown doctor’ visits to create lasting memories for children and their families at the hospice.
Diane Alton, High Profile Events Manager, CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) comments: “We are thrilled with the kind support from Costa Coffee. This donation will help CHAS as we aim to reach all families that need our support and enable us to provide unwavering care for children and their families, at every step on this hardest of journeys.”
Furthermore, Costa Coffee is proud to have supported The Sparkle Foundation, a crisis support and mental health community charity, with a crucial £4,000 donation this year. The Sparkle Foundation will be using the donation to make a tangible difference to the lives of those across the country by developing and upgrading their services, making them more accessible than ever. This includes providing extra sessions for their free mental health groups which are run by therapists, and offering hot food and supplies to those in need.
In total, Costa Coffee has now donated £24,000 to the Sparkle Foundation, with additional support provided thanks to its internal Raise & Match scheme that has supplemented the money raised during other local activity by its team members.
Since Costa Coffee first started its Community Grants scheme in 2021, the company has donated over £100,000 to charities and organisations across the UK, giving a little lift to hundreds of groups making a massive difference in the communities around their stores.
For more information on Costa Coffee’s community programme click here.
