Lake District-based Levens Village Store has made two donations to community initiatives through Co-op’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity scheme.

The store made a £1,000 donation to Springfield Domestic Abuse Support, a local women’s refuge, through a partnership with Maltesers.

Levens Village Store also donated £500 to the Sedgwick Women’s Cricket Team (image above) to promote inclusivity in the sport.

Since 2021, Levens Village Store has awarded over £27,500 to charitable organisations through Co-op Wholesale’s own-label products sales.

Store owner Vanessa Riley said: “Over the past four years MADL have been so very generous with their donations, and each time a donation is announced, I’m always on the lookout for who we can support in our community and area and contact them.”

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The move builds on Co-op Wholesale’s commitment to giving back to the community through its MADL programme.

Kate Carroll, social value lead at Co-op Wholesale, added: “These donations show how independent retailers can make a real difference to the lives of people in their communities.”

In August, Nisa Local Dallam Stores announced that it raised £50,000 in donations as part of the MADL charity.

This follows Co-op reinstating its commitment to social values earlier this summer after a survey revealed that employees felt increasing inequality within the business.