Neighbourly Community Fund by M&S to support communities

M&S customers can support by selecting the Neighbourly Community Fund as their Sparks charity1. Sparks is M&S’s loyalty programme which offers a range of benefits including a penny donation by M&S to a charity of your choice every time you shop in-store or online. To date over £6million has been donated to good causes in this way.

In addition to this, M&S stores will continue to redistribute all surplus food or flowers to the Neighbourly network of hundreds of organisations via the Neighbourly platform. Earlier this year M&S launched an app to make it easier for colleagues to connect surplus product with the right local charity.

The M&S family will work closely with Neighbourly, its long-standing partner for over five years, throughout this difficult period – listening to what the community needs are as the situation changes and evolves.

“Community organisations are coming under immense pressure and need support now more than ever. Immediate funding can help give immediate peace of mind that they can take urgent action to support the most vulnerable in our society. We know needs will evolve as we move through this crisis - from loneliness to hunger to financial concern, but we’re all in this together and we must keep working together,” said Zoe Colosimo, COO of Neighbourly.

“One of the things that makes me most proud to work at M&S is the role we play in our local communities. Not just through the brilliant service our colleagues give to our customers, but through the time and energy they give to helping those most in need. We can’t do this on our own and so we partner with organisations like Neighbourly who link our stores to local causes so we can donate surplus food and non-food products to the people who really need it. This fund will help mobilise over 1,000 local charities and organisations across the UK to support the most vulnerable members of our community. The whole M&S family is getting involved - including M&S Bank and M&S Energy – so we can keep up the support communities need most as events unfold,” said Steve Rowe, CEO of M&S.

Alongside this local activation, at a national level, the M&S family is also donating £100,000 to the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal and customers can get involved by selecting this as their Sparks charity.

Like all retailers, M&S is working tirelessly across its stores, supply chain and support centres to deliver for its customers and helps feed the nation. Over the coming weeks, M&S will continue looking at ways to support its customers, colleagues and communities during this exceptional time.

Neighbourly is an award-winning giving platform that helps businesses make a positive impact in their communities by donating volunteer time, money and surplus products, all in one place.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (PC)