A LOCAL charity supporting people suffering from rural and social isolation has been given a funding boost.

Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre has been awarded £2,660 from The Pavers Foundation, a charitable initiative of the family-owned footwear retailer, Pavers.

The funding was donated on behalf of Holly Sagar, communications coordinator at Pavers Head Office.

Her father, Phil Sagar, is a volunteer driver for Pershore Plus which prompted her to apply for the grant funding through the Pavers Foundation.

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The donation will be used to fund essential maintenance checks on three of the charity’s accessible vehicles for one year.

Holly Sagar thanked the foundation for it support in providing the funding.

She said: “Thank you so much to the Foundation for supporting this essential community service for Pershore and the surrounding area.

"It is humbling to work for a business with such a strong social conscience, which supports good causes in this way.”

Karon Swinburn, CEO of Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre said how much of a difference the donation will make for the charity.

She said: "Our community transport service is, in many cases a lifeline for people in our quest to reduce social isolation and loneliness in Pershore and the surrounding villages.

"Just to be able to get out to do shopping, meet friends for a coffee, or join a leisure activity goes a long way to supporting and maintaining people’s mental health and wellbeing.

"Pershore Plus also offers trips to local places of interest and attractions, The Valley, Evesham is always a popular trip. 

"We are hugely grateful to the Pavers Foundation for funding the maintenance checks needed on our three vehicles for the next year.

"This comes at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is impacting on small charities like ours and meaning that we are always looking for more funding opportunities.”

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Pavers was founded by Catherine Paver in 1971 and remains family-owned and run, celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2021. The brand has 170 stores nationwide.

Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre was established in 1984 and became an independent local charity in 1985. 

For more information, you can visit https://pershorevolunteers.org.uk/.