A.F. Blakemore has awarded a total of £38k to five charities and community organisations across its trading region, through the 2026 Spar Community Cashback programme.
The move supports projects that strengthen local communities across the Midlands, the south and also Wales.
Delivered through Spar’s network of regional wholesalers, the Community Cashback initiative enables retailers and wholesalers to invest directly in causes that matter most to the communities they serve.
Funding applications
Thousands of applications were submitted from across the UK this year, with A.F. Blakemore selecting five organisations to receive funding.
The largest grants of £10k each were awarded to RNLI Margate and Penryn Rugby Club.
At RNLI Margate, the funding will support the rebuild of the town’s lifeboat station, helping provide modern facilities for volunteers and lifeguards while ensuring the RNLI can continue delivering its vital search and rescue service.
Penryn Rugby Club said it will use its grant to carry out essential repairs to its historic clubhouse, which serves as a community hub for more than 500 locals.
Other recipients
Further grants of £6k were awarded to The Pathway Project in Staffordshire, which supports survivors of domestic abuse, the Children’s Sailing Trust in Cornwall, which creates opportunities for young people, including those with special educational needs, and The Dragon Theatre in North Wales, which is helping establish dementia support services for local communities.
Claire Johnson at RNLI Margate, said: “This generous grant will allow us to keep saving lives by supporting the rebuild of our lifeboat station and lifeguard facility.
”With so many people visiting Margate and the surrounding beaches, the lifeboat station continues to have a critical role and is an invaluable asset to the town.”
Supporting communities
Caoire Blakemore, board director at A.F. Blakemore, said of the donations: “As a family-owned business, supporting the communities served by our Spar stores has always been part of who we are.
“Our retailers see first-hand the impact these organisations have locally and we’re delighted this funding can help them continue making a difference where it matters most.”
The funding forms part of the wider Spar Community Cashback initiative, which awarded £96k to 23 organisations across the UK this year through Spar’s regional wholesale partners.
No comments yet