A rehabilitation and training organisation in Peppard is delighted to receive a surprise cash prize after being nominated by a mystery shopper as part of a co-op initiative.
The Ways and Means Trust received £5,000 as part of the supermarket’s ‘Winner Shares It All’ prize draw, which sees two winners chosen each month from members’ nominations. The winner also receives £500 for themselves.
Manager Denise Jones says she doesn’t know who nominated her for the award, but for a grassroots organization like hers, the money is a huge help.
She said: “We don’t have any funds just sitting in the bank, so if we want to make improvements or maintenance, we have to find the funds.”
“This £5,000 means we can bring plans forward and implement them sooner rather than waiting until we have the funding to do so.” The charity offers a work-based training programme for people with learning difficulties and mental health problems. Greenshoots is their garden therapy unit and currently provides 50 students with lessons and practical training in gardening tasks. The programme has already helped many students to gain paid employment in the community.
Ms Jones says the money will be used to fund repairs that were originally planned for Christmas but can now be completed sooner than expected.
She said: “We will be improving the walkways for wheelchair users and continuing the improvements around our toilet block with some shelters so that people waiting for the toilet do not get wet while they wait.”
The charity also received support from the co-op through its Co-op Local Community Fund, which raises funds for community projects.
Ms Jones added: “The co-op is currently raising money for us to repair the polytunnel and potentially purchase a new one.”
