Exmouth charity is here to help anyone in need – here’s how you can support them via the Co-op
Co-op customers in Exmouth can now support three new community organisations selected as local causes
By Will Goddard
Posted: Monday, 28th November 2022 3:05 pm
Co-op customers in Exmouth can now support community organisations that have been selected as local causes for the next 12 months.
The three new Local Community Fund causes are Open Door Exmouth, Exmouth Youth Theatre and Exmouth Talking Newspaper.
Open Door Exmouth, founded in 1995, offers help to anyone who needs it in the local area.
Initially a homeless drop-in centre, it now has four ongoing projects aimed at tackling poverty and social isolation.
It has a community hub on South Street, a men's shed in Littleham, a craft room on Hamilton Road, and a mental health support service at Exmouth Community College.
At its community hub, it offers a community café with low-cost and free meals, an anonymous grab-and-go community fridge, parent hub and baby bank with free nappies, and more.
From January to October this year, the charity has had over 8,300 visits to its café, provided over 5,500 and 700 low-cost and free meals respectively, and made over 600 one-to-one support visits.
Open Door Exmouth CEO Lisa Pike said: "Open Door is an umbrella charity with multiple services and projects happening across the town.
"In terms of who we support, it's always been about anyone who is marginalised, disadvantaged, vulnerable.
"In here, [people] can take food [from our community fridge], nobody's noticing, or judging, or anything - it's very anonymous."
Open Door has also been hit by the cost-of-living crisis, and expects its costs to soar in the near future.
Any funding the charity receives from the Co-op will go straight to its parent hub and baby bank service, at which parents can meet and access support such as the community fridge, free nappies, baby clothes, baby items and more.
Open Door Exmouth is a Christian charity with multiple community projects on the go, including a community cafe and parent hub. Exmouth Youth Theatre provides local youngsters with the opportunity to take part in drama or musical theatre, and Exmouth Talking Newspaper helps visually impaired people stay up-to-date with local news and events in the area.
How can I support a local cause with the Co-op?
When Co-op members buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes into their Co-op Membership account and Co-op gives the same to support community organisations and local causes. Co-op membership helps support Co-op's national charity partners as well as the Local Community Fund causes.
Each time a Co-op member swipes their membership card they can choose which cause to donate to. Nominating a selected charity can be done through the Co-op app (community tab) or online at: https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes
However, if you do not pick a specific cause, the money will still be donated and split equally among the store's nominated charities.
See www.coop.co.uk/membership to find out more or become a Co-op Member.
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