DISADVANTAGED children in Devon are to benefit from Co-op teamwork after Beach Schools South West CIC was chosen as Community Fund beneficiaries for this year.
Shoppers will be able to choose to donate to the organisation to raise funds to transport kids to the beach for outdoor learning in the marine environment.
Beach Schools South West teach on the beach and they are already offering some schools in Plymouth free sessions – but the schools cannot afford the transport to get there.
Now the Co-op Local Community Fund is offering those disadvantaged children a lifeline to make a real difference to kids in Plymouth and help them access fun and learning all in one.
Beach Schools is an award-winning CIC which teaches curriculum-linked learning on the beach, helping children understand about the world they live in, the environment around them, sea safety, plastics pollution and helping to improve their mental and physical health.
“At a time when funds for charitable organisations are becoming more difficult to access, we’re incredibly grateful for this opportunity to make a real difference in Plymouth,” said Tess Stuber, Beach Schools South West Director.
“We are raising funds to provide transport and subsidise costs for outdoor learning in the marine environment for primary 
school children in Plymouth, of which approximately 45% in some wards of the city are living in poverty.
“Shocking numbers of primary school children in Britain’s Ocean City have not ever been to the beach.This is due to a variety of factors, transport and the cost of actually getting there. We have funding available for schools but the barrier for them is actually getting there: the cost of transport.
“To help us raise vital funds, we’ll be relying on Co-op shoppers. Every time they buy Co-op own-brand products they get a 5% reward for themselves, and a further 1% goes to local causes like ours. Co-op members can decide which local group they would like to back by going online www.coop.co.uk/membership. We really hope that people will visit the website and choose to support us. When a community comes together we’re able to achieve great things, so we hope you can help promote our project.”
If you’re not a member and would like to support the Beach Schools transport challenge, you can join at your local store or online at www.coop.co.uk.
For more information about us, please visit www.beachschoolssouthwest.co.uk
