Waitrose scheme is boost for charity
Charity donations may have taken a hit during the recession, but one scheme involving a Canary Wharf supermarket and its shoppers has remained strong.
Waitrose's Community Matters scheme kicked off last September and is nearing its first anniversary having given £1,000 a month to various charities in the area.
The scheme sees Waitrose customers nominate worthy causes.
Staff at the Canada Square store then vote on which charities go through to the final three each month, before shoppers decide what percentage each one gets by putting tokens in the instore Community Matters box.
One of the recent beneficiaries was The Dellow Centre, based by Brick Lane on the edge of Tower Hamlets and run by homeless charity Providence Row, which received£360 in June.
The money covered two days of breakfasts for rough sleepers.
Providence Row's fundraising manager Jenny Fawson said schemes such as this are particularly important, with the numbers of homeless attending recently rising to between 180 and 200 a day, coupled with a decrease in corporate donations.
She said: "A couple of years ago we had 120 people a day, but numbers have gone up because people are losing their jobs.
"Schemes like these really help. A lot of organisations that were previously good for funding are now struggling, so individuals and companies supporting charities really matter."
The day centre also provides showers and laundry facilities, as well as advice and support on matters such as benefits and helping to deal with substance abuse.
The branch manager of the store, Russell Cattell, said Community Matters would continue indefinitely.
He said: "Coming up to its first anniversary, Waitrose remains fully committed to continuing this work with charities in the local area to ensure their continued success."
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