Asda Foundation grants help with cost of living during summer holidays

Our community champions are supporting local groups, charities and good causes during the cost of living crisis.

So far this year they've helped groups apply for a total of 172 grants through the Asda Foundation worth a total of £128,378. Since the grants started last year they've helped a total of 678 groups with donations worth a total of £670,648.

One of the groups to benefit is Coltness Community Food Larder – pictured above receiving a grant for £1,000 via Asda Newmains.

The store's community champion Kelly Alexander, who helped the group with their grant application, said: "Thank you to Angela who came in and received the cheque. They all do an amazing job in the community and we were only too happy to help."

Our Wakefield store's community champion Lisa Staggs, above, was volunteering with the Wakefield Street Kitchen when they received a £1,600 grant to support their work. The group make almost 300 meals per week and in excess of 50 food parcels.

Here's Ann-Marie McCallion, our Belfast Westwood store's community champion, above, presenting an Asda Foundation cost of living grant for £600 to SW Belfast Food Bank, Colin Glen Christian Fellowship.

She said: "They provide nutritional balanced emergency food and support to local people in Belfast. Due to the cost of living crisis, people everywhere are feeling the strain. This grant will be used on much-needed stock. They will also provide much-needed toiletry essentials to our community. A big thank you to the Asda Foundation for this grant."

When Maureen, from the Healthy Hearts exercise group, above, popped into our Swinton store to catch up with our community champion Jennie the store manager Matt surprised her with an Asda Foundation cost of living grant for £596.

Jennie said: "The smile says it all – congratulations to all at Healthy Hearts."

Here's our Rotherham store's community champion Samantha Jarvis, *below, *presenting a grant for £400 to Silverwood Miners Welfare to help with the increase of their electric and gas costs.

Colleagues at our Longwell Green store helped Juice Community Project secure a grant for £900 to buy packed lunch items and craft activity materials for a summer holiday programme.

And our Maryhill store's community champion Ryan Rooney has supported Shakespeare Street Youth Club, which received a grant for £500 to buy food for lunches and snacks and redecorating tools for summer holiday activities.

PXI Parson Cross Initiative are receiving £650 from our Chaucer Road store in Sheffield to stock a weekly food pantry and to serve in the social café over the summer months, supporting those who will struggle to feed themselves and their families, and to give people a safe space to make connections and meet others in the social cafe.

And Pelican Parcels are receiving £800 from our Brighton Marina store to purchase essential items for families such as nappies, formula, clothing, toiletries and bedding.