ISLE of Wight charities and community groups have been urged to apply to the Co-op Community Fund.

The Co-op, which has supported more than 60 causes over the past two years, has appealed for organisations that make a difference in their local communities — by protecting and improving community spaces, helping people reach their full potential by developing their skills, or promoting health and wellbeing — to get in touch.

Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community and shared value at the Co-op, said: "Through working with communities to understand what matters most to their collective wellbeing, we’ve developed our community wellbeing index.

"This, along with the views of more than 10,000 Co-op members, has led us to focus on three key areas that make the greatest difference to communities.”

Groups can apply to be a beneficiary of the scheme, which last year awarded 4,000 organisations an average of £5,000 each.

Applications close on June 16.

For more information, go to www.coop.co.uk/causes

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