Three local causes have benefitted from the Co-op's annual Local Community Fund payout.

Each year Co-op stores ask local people to nominate deserving community causes to benefit from its Local Community Fund.

Every time Co-op Members buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes into their Co-op Membership account and the Co-op gives the same to support community organisations and local causes.

Marie Curie Somerset, the Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association (SWEDA) and Horrington Cricket Club were all chosen as Co-op local causes for 2021.

Marie Curie Somerset received a donation of £1,274.15 from the Co-op.

Riona Houghton, Marie Curie Community Fundraiser for Somerset, said: "We are so very grateful for the support we receive from the Co-op's Local Community Fund. Their support is particularly important this year as the Coronavirus has really impacted our fundraising and income – income upon which we rely on to be able to provide vital care for dying people and their loved ones."

In Somerset, Marie Curie has a team of nurses and healthcare assistants that provide hands-on care for dying people in their own homes and much-needed respite to overstretched carers. They help people living with a terminal illness to feel safe, supported and cared-for in the place where they're most comfortable.

Somerset also benefits from several additional volunteer services, developed and managed by Marie Curie, such as the Marie Curie Helper service and Marie Curie Companions. These compassionate volunteers provide help at home for people with a terminal illness, companionship to people reaching the end of life in Musgrove hospital, support people to have conversations about their wishes for end of life and provide extensive emotional and bereavement support.

Horrington Cricket Club was presented with more than £800 as a result of the Co-op's fundraising campaign.

Honorary secretary Kevin Russell said: "The club is most grateful for the grant of £842.75 received from the Co-op Community Fund. This is being used for junior coaching purposes and also towards the purchase of a new mobile practice net which will be placed on the edge of the cricket square. "The cost will be in the region of £2,000 and it is intended to have the new structure in place in time for the 2022 season which commences in April."

The club's previous outdoor net facility was damaged beyond repair by high winds at the end of last season.

The Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association (SWEDA), in Shepton Mallet, was also selected as a Co-op local cause by both the Evercreech and Pilton Co-op stores.

A spokesperson for SWEDA said: "We are delighted by the support from Co-op and are very grateful for being selected as one of their local causes."

The three new Co-op local causes set to benefit from the next round of funding in the Shepton Mallet area are Evercreech Sports Club, Evercreech Primary School and Pilton Pre-School.

Choose your local cause today at coop.co.uk/local-causes or go to the Co-op App. Co-op Members 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. Supporting these local causes aligns with the Co-op's mission of fairer access to food, mental wellbeing and opportunities for young people. Co-op Membership helps support Co-op's national charity partners and Local Community Fund causes. See www.coop.co.uk/membership