Independent retailer LA Foods Group, which operates several Nisa Local stores, has donated £5,000 to BEfriend London through Co-op Wholesale’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity.
The grant will help sustain BEfriend’s one-to-one Befriending Project – a service supporting adults of all ages across Hounslow and Ealing. The funding will enable volunteers to continue providing one to two hours of weekly one-to-one support to vulnerable individuals in their homes and help run inclusive day trips to places like Kew Gardens.
Currently supporting 204 service users – the majority aged 50 and over, and over 65% living with physical, cognitive or sensory disabilities – the project also helps users living in some of the UK’s most deprived areas. More than half are from ethnic minority backgrounds, and the service is tailored to ensure inclusivity and cultural sensitivity, with bilingual volunteers speaking languages including Urdu, Punjabi and Gujarati.
Kevin Derbyshire, from BEfriend London, said: “This generous donation allows us to continue building a strong community where everyone has the chance to feel connected and supported. Our project doesn’t just support isolated individuals – it also empowers over 200 local volunteers with experience and confidence to make a difference.”
Tabrez Hussain from LA Foods Group added: “Supporting BEfriend London through MADL is a privilege. We’ve seen first-hand the transformative impact their work has on vulnerable people across West London.”
Kate Carroll, Social Value Lead at Co-op Wholesale, said: “This is exactly what MADL is all about – giving independent retailers a powerful way to support projects that really matter to their local communities.”
Funds for the donation were raised through sales of Co-op own-brand products in LA Foods’ Nisa stores.
