Southern Co-op

HQ: Portsmouth, PO6 3FE, United Kingdom

This is how Southern Co-op is investing in local communities. A verified record of community support, tracked on Neighbourly.

Company info

Branches
2
Company size
Corp

See local impact

Explore how this business is supporting local communities

What Southern Co-op has delivered.

The positive impact Southern Co-op has helped to create in communities.

All-time totals

People supported weekly

The number of people indirectly helped each week by the good causes Southern Co-op has supported

414,579

Good causes supported

882

CO2e saved (tonnes)

83

Money donated

£2,738,986

Volunteering (hours)

692

Meals donated

54,892

Types of good causes supported

Every charity and community group on our platform is assigned a primary mission type based on the main need it supports. For example, a food bank may categorise itself under social welfare.


People who benefitted


CategoryCauses supported
Families300
People with disabilities298
Children (10-14)244

Communities that benefitted


LocationCauses supported
Portsmouth198
Bristol85
Southampton66

How it works

Here's how businesses create local impact through Neighbourly.

Through Neighbourly, Southern Co-op has donated surplus food, money and volunteer time, turning business resources into meaningful community impact.

  1. 1

    A business gives

    Through Neighbourly, businesses donate resources to local good causes.

  2. 2

    A local good cause puts it to use

    Support goes directly to charities and community organisations, helping them free up time and resources to focus on what matters most.

  3. 3

    People get the support they need

    Whether it's a hot meal, essential products, a safe place to meet or someone to talk to, support reaches people in ways that make a real difference.

  4. 4

    Every contribution counts

    Together, these contributions create real, measurable impact in local communities. That's social value in action.

Causes connected to Southern Co-op

Verified resources received

Dine With Us

Bedford, UK

We started in October 2015 feeding the homeless, rootless and in need on a Saturday. We now run a Social Supermarket on Tuesdays 12 - 2, a fresh fruit and vegetable food bank on Thursdays 12 - 2 all from surplus food from Supermarkets and Saturdays we serve hot food 5 - 6pm. We currently run 5 projects. Our first project is Dine With Us on The Streets - Cherries Legacy where we support between 80 to 100 people with hot hearty food, take away food such as tins, sandwiches, crisps, fruit, hot drinks, toiletries and clothes, every Saturday These are people who are either street homeless, in hostels, on means tested benefits or in other financial crisis. We have been running this project since October 2015 and we believe in treating people with respect and with dignity. Our second project is Dine With Us Community Larder, our Food Bank project ,launched in February 2019, giving access to vital nourishment for those suffering food poverty. The need for this is much greater than we anticipated and we now need more partners so we can ensure that we have enough food to meet the demand. We are also incurring significant costs operating the programme, with the yearly rent on the unit, running costs and other sundries. We have seen as many as 75 (seventy five) families come to collect food in a single day. Our third project sees us support 11 schools with more looking to come on board (which we cannot commit to yet as we do not have enough food). Fresh fruit and vegetables and protein play a pivotal part in our organisation, as is encouraging people to eat more healthily, regardless of their circumstances. Our fourth project is sending out care packages to the community, quite often through the schools as well and our fifth project is opening and running Bedfords first Social Supermarket which has been in operation since April 2020. This gives people access to affordable food and provides a fundraising vehicle for us, to help towards the other projects we run on a goodwill basis.

What we've received

Money£1,500

SHARE Wokingham

Wokingham, UK

We are a volunteer led and run community service set up as a consequence of Covid-19 supporting the local community with fresh food and other items which would ordinarily be wasted. We ask for a £1 donation for the items we offer and we are open to anyone who can come along to us, no referral needed. SHARE Wokingham is a locally founded food sharing charity (registered number 1195620) with 15 sites in Wokingham and surrounding areas. Each week SHARE helps over 2000 people in our local community who need support foodwise by redistributing an incredible 40 tonnes of food from local supermarkets and food suppliers that would otherwise go to waste. No referral is required. Our food sharing is for anyone who feels they could do with some help – even if just temporarily. Everyone is welcome. No questions are asked. You will just find friendly faces and plenty of fresh produce.

What we've received

Money£550

Sufra NW London

London, UK

Sufra is a charity in North West London that prevents hunger, fights poverty and builds community. With the help of our volunteers and partners, we coordinate a network of food banks, kitchens, a community shop and café. These act as a gateway for guests to access more holistic support – including welfare advice, asylum support and our award-winning community garden. We aim to work with our guests to find solutions to their challenges together, whilst campaigning against the causes of hunger and poverty.

What we've received

Money£5,000

Southern Co-op Neighbourly campaigns

Southern Co-op Winter Fund 2025

During the winter months, the demand for services from good causes will increase as they provide warmth, food, and companionship to families and individuals in our local communities. At Southern Co-op, we are committed to doing our part. Funding is aimed at groups who are providing a warm space, food packages and/or prepared meals to members of their local community or require additional equipment and resources to build on their current food provision. If you are a charity or good cause based in Berkshire, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle Of Wight, Kent, London, Somerset, Surrey, West Sussex, Wiltshire; find out how you can be part of the campaign below.

Southern Co-op Green COP Fund 2025

COP 30, this year taking place in Brazil, is the annual formal meeting of the UNFCCC parties, to assess progress in dealing with climate change. At Southern Co-op we believe change starts in the neighbourhoods where our colleagues, customers and members live. We believe by supporting good causes, who are focusing on creating habitats and providing education on recycling and the challenges to our climate, steps can be taken to reach the Governments goal of protecting and conserving a minimum of 30% of land and sea for biodiversity by 2030. With 20 £500 grants available to good causes based in Berkshire, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle Of Wight, Kent, London, Somerset, Surrey, West Sussex, and Wiltshire, we can work together to protect nature.

Southern Co-op Wellbeing Fund August 2025

Wellbeing is to feel good and function well, At Southern Co-op we believe the best way to achieve this is by supporting good causes who promote community togetherness and a person’s physical and mental health. This campaign is aimed at good causes who offer a way for people to socialise and engage with others promoting community relationships and involvement and tackling loneliness. By accessing social horticultural therapy or mindfulness sessions, refuge from abuse or modern slavery, or taking part in activities which encourage conversation and inclusivity, we can all live in communities where people can be active, learn, give, connect, and take notice.

Southern Co-op Wilder Fund June 2025

Spaces for nature are at a premium but are vital for the recovery and re-introduction of natural habitats across our varied landscape. Southern Co-op’s trading estate covers urban and rural environments which all suffer from a poor climate, the effects of CO2 and in some cases, lack of intervention. Building on over a decade of support for wildlife, we continue to stand alongside good causes who are encouraging behaviour change and working towards the Government’s commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. This fund provides grants to charities who have a clear project which encourages members of a community to take action for nature by providing resources, education and support. Actions include planting, citizen science, education or re-purposing land.

Southern Co-op Safer Fund May 2025

At Southern Co-op the safety of our colleague, member and customer communities is a priority. Retail crime continues to rise and as shown in the Association of Convenience Stores 2024 Crime Report, there were approximately 76,000 incidents of violence, 6,100 incidents of robbery and more than 1.2million incidents of verbal abuse, 34% of which were hate related. We believe by working with good causes who have services promoting positive change, we can tackle the effect crime is having on others.

Southern Co-op Food Fund May 2025

As a food retailer, Southern Co-op believes everyone should have the right to the food they like and can feed themselves and their families. A YouGov survey by the Food Foundation found that in June 2024, 13.6% of households in the UK were ‘food insecure’ (ate less or went a day without eating because they couldn’t access or afford food), down from 14.8% in January 2024.

Southern Co-op Share To Care Fund

As the Southern Co-op Share to Care Scheme comes to a close on July 28th, we are delighted to share that Southern Co-op will be donating £1,500 to every Good Cause that participated in this transformative programme. This initiative is a reflection of Southern Co-op’s unwavering commitment to strengthening communities and supporting the incredible organisations that work tirelessly to improve the lives of those in need.

Share to Care

We all want to reduce the impact our Foodprint has on the environment and ensure unsold food is kept on family’s tables, which is why at Southern Co-op, we have teamed up with Neighbourly to share what we care about.

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