“The money will help pay for activities and give our young people a break from their caring duties.”Published on Friday 7 October 2011 11:32

A GAYWOOD-BASED young carers’ group has been given a £558 donation by a Waitrose store to help continue its vital support to local children.

The money has come from the Swaffham store’s green token scheme, part of its Community Matters initiative, which benefits three local good causes nominated by staff each month.

Waitrose shoppers put green tokens, which they are given at the till, in the collection box for their favourite charity or community group, and £1,000 is shared between those causes in direct proportion to the number of tokens each has received.

Last week, Swaffham Waitrose’s Community Matters coordinator Sandra Thompson visited Action for Children’s West Norfolk Young Carers’ Group, at the Old Rectory in Gayton Road, to present the cheque to Christine O’Keeffe and Mary Key.

The money will help provide fun activities and trips for the children, as well as support the running of the project.

The young carers’ project has been running for more than 10 years and offers practical and emotional support to children, aged seven to 11, who care for relatives with a disability, long-term illness, mental health issue or substance misuse problem.

Penny Olivo, the Action for Children group’s service manager, said: “We are extremely grateful to Waitrose and to all the people who chose to support our project as the money is vital in helping us to support the remarkable children and young people at West Norfolk Young Carers.

“The money will help pay for activities and give our young people a break from their caring duties.”

http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/community/community-