A Cotswold loneliness charity will receive part of over £18,000 donated by Your Co-op.

The supermarket made this contribution to various charity partners in Oxfordshire - one of which is Cotswold Friends.

Among other charitable organisations who will also receive a share of the total £18,734 donation are Oxford Food Hub, Lawrence Home Nursing Team and Kidlington Community Hub.

As part of its ongoing initiative, Your Co-op supports charities that play critical roles in their local communities.

Cotswold Friends, an organisation dedicated to battling loneliness and isolation among older and susceptible individuals in North Cotswolds, is now in its 76th year of service.

With the aid of over 350 volunteers, the charity manages to assist approximately 2,000 people at different intervals.

Cathy Russell, marketing manager at Cotswold Friends, said: "This donation represents a significant milestone for the work we do in our communities, particularly in expanding our community support services focused on reducing isolation and loneliness.

"With this generous contribution, we can amplify our outreach efforts and engage more individuals who need connections and support but are often hesitant to seek help."

Cotswold Journal: The supermarket made this contribution to various charity partners in Oxfordshire - one of which is

Alongside Cotswold Friends, Oxford Food Hub, a provider of food to over 200 charities and groups will benefit from this contribution.

Last year the hub's dedicated volunteer base helped to redistribute 518 tonnes of produce.

Spencer Lawes, outreach and administration co-ordinator for Oxford Food Hub, said: "As we don’t charge to collect or deliver our food, donations like this are vital to ensure our support continues to reach over 200 charities and community groups, six days a week."

Also benefiting is the Lawrence Home Nursing Team that provides free end-of-life nursing care to individuals in the comfort of their homes.

Kidlington Community Hub, another beneficiary, offers support groups and drop-ins for parents, carers and children.

These donations follow a precedent of over £25,500 raised through Your Co-op Food stores during its annual Christmas Foodbank Appeal.

Across 183 stores, funds were generated from the generosity of colleagues, customers and members.

Head of community and democratic engagement at Your Co-op, Tarra Simmons, stressed the importance of the funds for their charity partners' efforts in serving the most vulnerable within their communities.