The Co-operative has named the KM Charity Team as its chosen charity for 2017.

The Southern Co-operative store in Seasalter has selected the educational charity as the beneficiary of its Love Your Neighbourhood community scheme, which includes in-store fundraising for good causes.

Gill Kenward, manager of the Seasalter store, said: "This year we've got a completely different way of working with charities. The new initiative gives more of an opportunity to decide on someone local to support. Everything placed in the collection boxes at the tills will be given to the KM Charity Team at the end of the year to support the great work they do."

Mrs Kenward is particularly keen to support the KM Walk to School initiative as it fits perfectly with the Co-op's own initiatives to promote health and wellbeing. The KM campaign works with 150 primary schools to encourage children and their parents to embrace the benefits of ditching the car in favour of green alternatives including walking and cycling to school.

She added: “More than 40,000 families of primary school children take part in the Walk to School initiative each week. In the last academic year 600,000 green journeys were generated and 250,000 school-run car journeys removed from local roads, which is really important.”

The Love Your Neighbourhood community engagement programme addresses four key themes, promoting: Greener, Safer, Inclusive and Healthier Neighbourhoods. As part of the partnership the Seasalter branch will organise various fundraising events throughout the year in order to raise awareness and funds for the KM Charity Team.

For more information visit - www.kmcharityteam.co.uk