Every time a member shops at their local Co-op store, 1% of what they spend on selected own-brand products, service goes to the Local Community Fund, and the Co-op Group chooses a new list of local causes each year. Members can then go online and select which cause they want their own 1% to go to, with the money raised together with money from carrier bag sales helping local projects. Since September 2016, more than £20 million has been raised.

Built almost entirely by 112 volunteers over 26,000 hours, following an arson attack on the old building 7 years ago, the eco-friendly centre, which opened one year ago has so far scooped a number of major awards from, amongst others, the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) and RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects).

Speaking about the money raised so far for the Wildlife Discovery Centre, Alex Lister Druridge Bay Living Landscapes Manager said: “The local community has always supported our work on Druridge Bay and the money raised so far just goes to prove this.

With another six months to go, I’m really pleased that the money we receive will go to support the centre, so come on everybody, and help us keep this building and the reserve it nestles in looking marvellous by visiting: www.coop.co.uk/membership and making us your cause next time you do you’re shopping.”