Making A Difference Locally Update

13/01/2012

2011 was a fantastic year for the Making A Difference Locally (MADL) charity. Over £1.2 million has been raised for local charities and good causes across the UK since last January making 2011 the best year so far.

The year saw some significant donations made by MADL to many charities, schools, hospices and football clubs across the UK in addition to a national award, a charity dinner and various community events all of which have demonstrated that the charity does exactly what it says – it makes a difference locally.

Momentous events that have took place in 2011 include:

In January it was introduced that all Heritage own label products would contribute to the MADL charity enabling retailers to donate even more money significantly benefitting the wider community.

This was also the month that a £400,000 donation was made to 20 UK hospices with each receiving a £20,000 donation. The hospices that received this donation were: Highland Hospice, CHAD, Eden Valley Hospice, St Oswald’s Hospice, St Leonard’s Hospice, Lindsey Lodge Hospice, Ty Hafan, Nightingale House Hospice, Compton Hospice, Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust/Transplant Unit, Trinity Hospice, St Peter’s Hospice, St Luke’s Hospice, The Martlets Hospice, Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, Northern Ireland Hospice, St Clare Hospice, Francis House Children’s Hospice, Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust, Nottinghamshire Hospice.

In March, Making A Difference Locally won the Best Wholesale Business Initiative at the Convenience Retail Awards 2011 which recognised the scheme as showing true localness and having made a difference to retailers and their customers.

In July, MADL donated £175,000 to seven national charities with each charity receiving £25,000. The charities that received this substantial sum were MacMillan Cancer Support, Children with Cancer, Action for Children, When You Wish Upon A Star, Age UK, Children in Need and Help for Heroes.

Following the devastating effects of the droughts in East Africa, £10,000 was donated to the East Africa Crisis Appeal to help provide lifesaving aid such as food, water, care and medical treatment for the millions of malnourished people at risk of starvation.

The charity has supported many community events through the course of the year with one of the most recent examples being the collaboration between Nisa member North East Convenience Stores and Coca Cola Enterprises (CCE) to renovate the Briardale Youth and Community Centre. 

Throughout the year members made many donations to their local communities. Some of the significant donations made by several of the members in 2011 include a total of £7,000 made by Harry Tuffin stores, £5,000 made by Dike & Son and £3,000 donated by The Proudfoot Group to various local good causes. 

This is just a small amount of what the charity has achieved in the past year and in the past three years since it was established in 2008. Every single donation made by each Nisa store across the country has made a difference to the community it trades in and it is hoped that as more suppliers come on board, 2012 will be even bigger and better with many more donations made to good causes across the UK.

For more information please contact .