A local charity that supports older and vulnerable people living in the North Cotswolds and Cirencester received a boost when businesses The Midcounties Co-operative and TSB supported their recent summer events.

Cotswold Friends’ mission is to combat loneliness and isolation and support independent living, so the charity was delighted when both The Midcounties Co-operative and TSB provided fantastic volunteers from their retail and banking teams to help at two of their summer ‘thank you’ events for the charity’s own volunteers and clients.

There was a lot to do at the events in Wyck Rissington and Northleach, with the volunteers helping Cotswold Friends staff to make sure there was plenty of tea, coffee, cake, and chat for those who provide and receive the charity’s services, such as carer support, befriending and community transport. Events run by Cotswold Friends staff were also held in Moreton-in-Marsh and Willersey.

The Midcounties Co-operative provided well over £100 worth of food, drink, and raffle prizes for all the events from their stores in Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-Water, Upper Rissington and Broadway, including £66 worth of goods from their Moreton store thanks to the generosity of the store manager, Kieran Allen.

Tarra Simmons, Head of Community and Democratic Engagement at The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “Supporting our local communities is at the heart of everything we do at The Midcounties Co-operative. We’re so pleased to have been able to support the amazing work that Cotswold Friends do in bringing local communities together and making a real difference in people’s lives.”

Teresa Mant, Third Party Relationships Manager (Risk) at TSB, said: “A thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding day was had by all TSB volunteers supporting our local community and learning more about this fantastic charity.”

Jo Hammond, CEO of Cotswold Friends, said: “We’re so grateful to The Midcounties Co-operative and TSB for their support and generosity. Our own volunteers do fantastic work, helping us run our services throughout the year, so to have people who have busy work lives in retail and banking take time out from their day jobs to help us say ‘thank you’ to them is brilliant.

“The events brought our volunteers and clients - many of whom would otherwise be isolated or alone - together in their communities and I know that they had a good time enjoying the delicious cakes provided by Midcounties and winning some fantastic raffle prizes.”

Cotswold Friends provides services across the North Cotswolds, including community transport, a befriending service, carer support, community activities, independence support, hospital support and intergenerational projects, and provides community transport in Cirencester.

For more information, contact Louise Lapworth, Marketing Manager, email [email protected].

The charity is always looking for new volunteers, so if you think you could help call 01608 697007 or email [email protected]. Visit www.cotswoldfriends.org/volunteers to find out more.