Two Brentford based community groups have received more than £1,800 between them from the Co-op's Local Community Fund.

The money was presented as Co-op's annual fundraising campaign to help local causes reached its conclusion in November. The funds will go towards project work and long-term investments in the area.

Each year Co-op stores ask local people to nominate deserving community causes and three are selected to benefit.

Every time Co-op Members buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes into their Co-op Membership account and Co-op gives the same to support community organisations and local causes.

As a result Speak Out in Hounslow has gained funding to run a Sensory Stories project for adults with learning disabilities, who have complex needs and sensory impairments.

The Co-op gave a total of £842.75 to the project, which will be spent on items required to expand sensory experiences and venue hire.

Co-director, Sally Malit explained how the project takes participants on an adventure that enables them to explore the senses of hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch.

Sally said: "An essential part of the Sensory Storytelling is that every participant has a bag containing the sensory elements.

"For example, when telling a story about travelling on a train in South Asia, each participant will be provided with a whistle to blow, hand heat pads to feel and imagine the heat of the sun along with incense and spices in order to experience the smells and tastes as the train makes its journey."

The group runs arts and crafts scheme at the Musical Museum and a Speak Out radio channel, both funded by the Co-op Local Community Fund.

Hounslow Community Foodbox is another Brentford based local cause to benefit from the Co-op Local Community Fund. The emergency food support community group received £1,000 from the fund in 2021 and said the money will be a long-term investment into their development of an automated referral system. The funds will allow them to develop the critical next phase and to make the system live.

A spokesperson said: "This investment will provide long-term benefits, focusing on the frontline service of providing food, tailored support and advice to meet the economic impact of COVID."

FoodBox aims to reach and support all those in our community who might be worried about how they are going to put food on the table, and offers advice and support in a confidential and understanding way.

One of the new Co-op local causes for this year is Air Quality Brentford, a residents' group working to improve air quality in the area through positive change.

They will be using the funds raised over the coming year to maintain their planting projects across Brentford.

Co-op Members will continue to help thousands of grassroots community projects through the Local Community Fund by selecting a cause to support.

Since 2016 Co-op Members have raised more than £85m for over 25,000 projects. Select your local cause today at coop.co.uk/local-causes or go to the Co-op App. Supporting these local causes aligns with the Co-op's mission of fairer access to food, mental wellbeing and opportunities for young people.

Co-op Membership helps support Co-op's national charity partners and Local Community Fund causes. See www.coop.co.uk/membership