SPAR Retail and distribution company A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd has awarded St Richard’s Hospice a grant of £1,917 through its charitable trust, the Blakemore Foundation.
The family owned company marked its centenary this year by launching a 1917 Heritage Grants Scheme to support local good causes across its trading area.
The company accepted applications over spring and summer and in total awarded 12 charities and organisations with a grant of £1,917, of which St Richard’s Hospice was one.
The charity received their cheque at the Warndon SPAR store on Cranham Drive, which is owned by A.F. Blakemore’s Retail division.
St Richard’s Hospice Fundraiser Ria Simons said: “We are very grateful to the Blakemore Foundation for choosing to support our care of patients with this generous donation. The money will go towards helping patients learn new skills and strategies on how to manage their symptoms through education, exercise, therapies and group support.
“All at St Richard’s Hospice would like to thank A.F. Blakemore for their support and wish the company a very happy 100th birthday.”
A.F. Blakemore Community Affairs Officer Kate Senter said: “A.F. Blakemore & Son has a long history of supporting local good causes and the 1917 Heritage Grant Scheme has complemented this perfectly.
“The 1917 Heritage Grants Scheme received more than 400 worthy requests from good causes across the UK.
“It is hoped that each grant will support the local good cause’s sustainability for years to come in recognition of the company’s commitment to growing sustainably for the benefit of staff, customers and the community.”
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd was founded in 1917 when Arthur and Harriet Blakemore opened a counter grocery store in Wolverhampton, and is today the 44th largest privately owned business in the UK.
Peter Blakemore is the third generation of the Blakemore family to lead the company, which is the largest member of SPAR UK, owning 290 SPAR stores and serving more than 1,000 in total across England and Wales.
The Blakemore Foundation was established by the Blakemore family in 1992 and over the last 10 years has donated more than £1.7 million to good causes across the company’s trading area, which stretches across England and Wales.
Ria Simons from St Richard’s Hospice collected the £1,917 cheque from SPAR Warndon Assistant Store Manager Ben Marshall