ASDA in Barrow awards local community groups with £2,000, Friends of Adventure Youth Club, Mill Lane Day Services (Parent Carers Association), and SAFA Cumbria received a double donation.

Three local community groups are celebrating after being awarded an 'extra special ' donation totalling more than £2000 from Asda.

The groups were all surprised at Christmas after the retailer told them they were up to win double the amount of money given, as part of the Green Token scheme, in Celebration of the Asda Foundation 30th Birthday.

Recipients are awarded funds based on customers dropping a green token into one of three boxes, one for each shortlisted charity, and then at the end of December, the charity with the largest amount of tokens received £1,000 and the remaining two groups each received £500 - double the normal amount.

Asda Community Champion Gill Gerrish presented each of the groups with a cheque to give them a vital funding boost.

The winning group Friends of Adventure Youth Club, received the most green tokens by Asda customers and was awarded £1,000.

The two runners up Mill Lane Day Services (Parent/Carers Association) and SAFA Cumbria both received runner up awards of £500 each.

The scheme allows customers at Asda Barrow to pick groups and causes close to their own hearts to gain vital funding boosts.

More than 10,000UK charities and causes near Asda stores have benefited from additional funding this year, thanks to a £1 million investment by the Asda Foundation.

Friends of Adventure Youth Club brings young people with disabilities and their siblings together in a fun and safe environment.

Their main aim is to assist these young people in achieving their goals in life and to give them the same opportunities that the young people without disabilities may be able to access.

The Mill Lane Day Services (Parent/Carers Association) raise money to buy specialist equipment to enhance the lives of adults with learning difficulties who attend the Centre.

SAFA Cumbria will use the donation to help fund more mental health counsellors for the ever increasing number of people within our local community that need to access professional help and support.

Their aim is that nobody will not have to wait more than 12 weeks to receive support.

All these groups have received their funding thanks to the help of Asda Barrow dedicated Community Champion - Gill Gerrish.

Gill, Asda Barrow Community Champion said: "We are really proud to be able to continually support the local charity groups in our area.

"At Asda, we're always thrilled when customers chosen good causes benefit from these vital funding boosts and we get to raise awareness of what they do.

"It's great to see these three groups who are right on our doorstep benefit from the £2,000 donation, double the normal amount as we celebrate the Asda Foundation 30th Birthday. "

Colin Frith, at Friends of Adventure Youth Club, added: "The entire team at Friends of Adventure would like to thank Asda Barrow for this incredible generous donation.

"Charitable grants and donations are vital in helping us to continue in the work we do. The £1,000 donation from Asda Foundation is greatly appreciated and will be a huge help to us, it is also a bonus to know that we are supported by members of the wider local community too."

If you would like to nominate a charity or good cause for the Green Token Giving programme, simply visit your local store to pick up a nomination form or visit the store locator page online.

For more information contact Gill Gerrish on 01229 826011 ext 222.