Published at 15:29, Wednesday, 16 January 2013

A CHARITY in South Cumbria has been given a £2,000 thanks to a generous donation from a village store.

The money comes from an annual fundraising dinner held by the Cooperative Retail Trading Group.

The event raised £400,000 to be shared between 26 different charities.

Each store nominated a different cause and the Coniston Cooperative Society chose Age UK South Lakeland.

John Stoddart, property director for Coniston Cooperative Society, said: "We wanted to support Age UK South Lakeland because we know that the money will be used in the local area.

Coniston Coop, which has recently been refurbished, is run by a local group of directors and is independent of the national group meaning it can sell local produce.

Pam Kirkbride is the local Age UK South Lakeland village agent in Coniston.

She said: ‘I was just overwhelmed when John told me. Its fantastic news and we’re really grateful. It’s good to know that the work we do together with local older people here in Coniston is so appreciated."

Age UK runs a day centre in Coniston every Thursday and hosts an exercise class at the sports centre on the same day, followed by lunch

A men’s group is held at the sports centre on the first Friday of every month.

A monthly lunch is hosted at the school and there is a drop in at St Andrew’s church every last Wednesday in the month.

Ms Kirkbride added: ‘It’s all about working together with the community, making connections, doing the very best with what we have locally.’

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk