Nisa Local stores champion LGBTQ+ initiatives with Pride Pot donations during Pride Month
Nisa Local stores are showing their support for LGBTQ+ communities across the UK this Pride Month by donating to local initiatives through the Making a Difference Locally (MADL) Pride Pot – a special fund created to support Pride events and LGBTQ+ projects.
One of the beneficiaries is Tamworth Pride, which received a £1,000 donation from Nisa Local Mile Oak in Tamworth. The funding is helping to bring the town’s Pride event to life, supporting promotional activity, event staging and community engagement.
“We’re proud to support Tamworth Pride and help create a space where everyone feels celebrated and included,” said Onkar Sandhu, owner of Nisa Local Mile Oak. “Our store is right at the heart of the community and we’re committed to backing events that bring people together.”
Another £1,000 donation was made by KASH Retail to Safer Streets Darlington, supporting the organisation’s community hub Number Forty. Since opening in 2022, the centre has welcomed over 500 people each year and plays a vital role in supporting vulnerable individuals, especially during weekend evenings.
“The funding will help Number Forty buy more essentials such as phone chargers, panic alarms and refreshments – items people regularly ask for,” said Kevin Polley of KASH Retail. “It will also allow the hub to improve the space so it feels more welcoming to everyone, including the LGBTQ+ groups that regularly use it.”
Number Forty is an inclusive space, welcoming all community members. It hosts regular LGBTQ+ forums, the monthly “MonGay” night, and the Darlington UNITY group, which brings together community leaders, faith groups and charities.
Kate Carroll, Social Value Lead at Co-op Wholesale, said: “Our Pride Pot is about more than just donations – it’s about visible, meaningful support for LGBTQ+ people in our communities.
"We’re proud to see independent Nisa retailers stepping up to support local initiatives that create safe spaces, foster inclusion and celebrate diversity. Through MADL, which is Co-op Wholesale’s charity, retailers can make a real difference during Pride Month and beyond.”
The Pride Pot is open to all Nisa retailers throughout the full year, enabling them to apply for funding for local LGBTQ+ events and initiatives. It's one of many ways Co-op Wholesale is reinforcing their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in every community retailers serve.
Our store is right at the heart of the community and we’re committed to backing events that bring people together.
