Three local causes in Exmouth have received much-needed funds thanks to the Co-op's annual Local Community Fund campaign.

Each year, Co-op stores ask local people to nominate deserving community causes.

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.

In November, HeadsUP received £5,461, East Devon Radio £4,261 and Exmouth Amateur Boxing Club £4,317 to help fund their activities.

HeadsUP, a community interest company offering free mental health awareness sessions to local schools and youth groups, has used the funds to add a new sports coach to its staff team.

Its founder, Paula Baker, said: "She's going to incorporate sports and mental health. We've got quite a few boys I work with one-to-one who really struggle with talking about their mental health, so we're going to try and build their confidence and self-esteem through sporting skills and exercise."

Exmouth Co-op Member Pioneer Paul Millar said: "This money from the local community and Co-op really does make a huge difference to these local causes being able to deliver these services that often schools aren't able to fund or provide.

"Every Co-op Member selects one of three causes they want to support, and that cause will then get money each time the member spends money on selected Co-op products and services.

"The more Exmouth people that join Co-op as members – it's not a loyalty card, it's a genuine membership scheme that supports local causes and local community projects – the more members we have, the more money goes to HeadsUP, so they can begin to meet the demand even more."

The next round of the Local Community Fund has now opened and the new three local causes for Exmouth are HeadsUp, Glenorchy Work Club and Esteem CIC.

Supporting these local causes aligns with the Co-op's mission of fairer access to food, mental wellbeing and opportunities for young people.

Select your local cause today at coop.co.uk/local-causes or go to the Co-op App.

Co-op Members will continue to help thousands of grassroots community projects through the Local Community Fund by selecting a cause to support. Since 2016 Co-op Members have raised more than £85m for over 25,000 projects.

Co-op Membership helps support Co-op's national charity partners and Local Community Fund causes. See www.coop.co.uk/membership.