Middlesbrough mental health support group Sunday Talks has received £1,000 through SPAR’s Community Cashback initiative.
Established in 2023, Sunday Talks meets every Sunday evening at Whale Hill Community Centre and is open to any member of the public to attend.
The group provides company for some, support for others, and overall is an encouraging space for everyone who attends to grow and envelop within themselves. It is available for anyone in the community to attend solo, with a partner, or in a group.
Founder Jessica Pinkney is currently in the process of gaining charity status for the group having completed her counselling studies at university, and she attended SPAR Eston with her proud mum Julie to receive the cheque from members of the store team.
Jessica said: “Receiving this grant will mean that I can give back to the community centre who has supported my group free of charge each week for the past two years.
“The grant will also allow me to buy more craft supplies and book local activities for the group and enable me to do more public advertising so that more people get the benefit of Sunday Talks.
“After two years of running this group, starting in my own home, it is extremely rewarding to be recognised for the hard work I’ve put into it.
“Seeing the positive growth in a lot of the members of the group makes me feel proud that I have provided them with the company and support to make a positive impact and difference in their life. A huge thank you to SPAR for the grant!”
SPAR Community Cashback returned more popular than ever in its fourth consecutive year and James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR’s primary retailer, wholesaler and distributor for the North of England, received 1,400 applications from charities and organisations across the North.
Nationally, more than 65 charities and local groups have shared a £100,000 grant fund this year, and since Community Cashback launched in 2021, grants have been awarded to nearly 200 organisations, highlighting SPAR’s long-term commitment in supporting local communities.
Philippa Harrington, Marketing Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We received several applications for SPAR Community Cashback for Sunday Talks, and we could not ignore the personal accounts of how the group has helped individuals.
“I think it is a lovely idea by Jessica to give back to the community centre with some of the funding after it has done so much to help her get the group well established. I think it really does epitomise what SPAR Community Cashback is all about and we hope that the grant supports Sunday Talks to go from strength to strength.”
James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.
Recent Comments