Co-op customers in the Shepton area can now support community organisations selected as local good causes for the next 12 months.

Each year Co-op stores ask local people to nominate deserving community causes to benefit from its Local Community Fund and for the next year the Co-op stores will be supporting Eco Food Creations, Mind in Somerset and Pilton Pre School.

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.

Since 2016 Co-op members have raised £117 million, helping 7 million people across the UK. Supporting local causes aligns with the Co-op's mission of fairer access to food, mental well-being 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

In turn the causes supported by the local stores do their utmost to help local people.

The causes:

Eco Food Creations

Eco Food Creations Ltd is a registered Aquaculture (Aquaponics) Farm, currently in the early stages of set up near Shepton Mallet.

With a burning desire to supply the local market with organic fruit, vegetables and rainbow trout, Eco Food Creations are currently building the farm's final phase, which involves installing fish tanks and the resident rainbow trout.

Mind in Somerset

Mind in Somerset is a charity whose core purpose is to provide services and support to anyone affected by mental illness, improving their quality of life and wellbeing. They offer a 24/7 Mindline service, peer support groups, garden, art therapy and much more. There is a way in for everyone and a service for everyone.

They have an open door and treat everyone as individual, ensuring the right support, at the right time in the right way.

Pilton Pre-School

Pilton Pre-school was established in 1966 and operates in the Methodist Chapel rooms alongside the chapel. Their key philosophy is: "We believe that each and every child is unique, special and full of potential" and they strive to inspire a sense of confidence, creativity, critical thinking, compassion, character and community.

The pre-school is a charity and committee-run organisation which is managed by a small and dedicated team of staff. The voluntary management committee is made up of parents and carers who work closely with the pre-school Manager to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the pre-school, offering support where needed.

These three causes align perfectly with the Co-op's aims of supporting fairer access to food, fairer access to mental wellbeing support, and fairer access to opportunities for young people.

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 causes.