The Co-op in Sandwich has donated £300 to the Phoenix Centre after choosing it as one of its charities of the year.

The youth centre on Jubilee Road, Sandwich, has been awarded the funds from in-store raffles and fundraising buckets.

This has enabled the centre to purchase an outdoor chess and draughts set, a giant Connect 4 game, limbo and a radio controlled Quadcopter for an engineering project.

Molly Purvis, who chairs the youth forum said: “We are all very grateful to the staff at the Co-op for making this donation. It really has made a difference, and we hope it marks the start of a good relationship with the local store.”

Co-op trading manager James Bridger visited the store last month to officially hand over the funds and chat to the children at the centre.

He said: “We wanted to support Age Concern and the Phoenix Centre. We wanted something for the older generation in Sandwich and for the youth.

“They’ve all got a nice caring attitude and they really do care about the place. They’re doing a great job, especially for the amount of volunteers they’ve got.”

Phoenix Centre chairman Phil Scott explained that the Co-op got in touch earlier in the year after reading an article in the Mercury highlighting the fact that the centre needed more funding.

On Sunday, September 14, Co-op staff members will be raising further funds by taking to the streets of Sandwich in a three-legged ‘onesie’ race. They hope to raise more than £1,000 for the cause.

To sponsor the run, pop into the Co-op store, in Moat Sole Road, Sandwich, or call 01304 620064.