COMMUNITY groups across Helensburgh and Lomond are keeping their fingers crossed for a bumper dividend from the Co-op at the end of this year.

The supermarket chain, which has stores in Helensburgh and Rosneath, has announced which groups will benefit from its Local Community Fund in 2019.

Local beneficiaries last year included Helensburgh and Lomond Autism, Parklands School, the Rosneath Peninsula West Community Development Trust, and St Modan’s Parish Church in Rosneath, who received payouts ranging from £4,500 to more than £8,300.

The local groups on the Co-op’s 2019 list are B.A.S.I.C (Before and After School Care) and Corner House Creche in Helensburgh; Fun First; the Route 81 Youth Project in Garelochhead; Loch Lomond and District Young Farmers Club; the Helensburgh Seafront Development Project; Barremman Bowling Club in Clynder; and the Garelochhead and Rosneath Peninsula Community First Responders.

The sums raised come from Co-op members who present their card every time they go shopping – in addition to receiving a five per cent reward for themselves when they buy Co-op own brand products, a further one per cent goes to local causes.

Members were encouraged to choose the causes to receive support in an online vote, and will then decide how the money is allocated.

Each group will receive a donation from the fund towards the end of the year.

Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community engagement at the Co-op, said: “People can get involved by becoming a member, swiping their card, and choosing the cause they want to support.

"By choosing their local cause, our members are telling us what really matters in their communities.

“Last year we invested £19 million in more than 4,000 groups UK-wide, supporting a wide range of initiatives from village halls and community spaces to skills initiatives and neighbourhood watch schemes, all of which are helping to make communities across the UK safer, happier, and healthier places to live.”