Shopping centre gives £20,000 to charities

Westquay Shopping Centre in Southampton has revealed the ten charities that have been awarded a grant through its Giving Back Project.

Launched in August, the Giving Back Project is a new scheme which will see Westquay donate a total of £20,000 to support local groups across Southampton.

Hammerson, which owns Westquay, has launched the scheme across its nine flagship destinations in the UK.

Westquay will award ten £2,000 grants to the following charities and organisations:

City Life Church, which works to serve those who are vulnerable and on the margins of society through a variety of projects.

GEMS (Guidance Empowerment Motivation & Safeguarding), which operates a support group for people in recovery from narcotics misuse.

Northam Community Link, which provides a community centre and community-based projects.

Parklife Community Café

St Mary’s Church

Saints Foundation, the charity of Southampton Football Club.

Society of St James, which exists to help vulnerable people across Hampshire by providing person-centred interventions and helping individuals to realise their potential

Somali Women and Children Community Development Group

Southampton Magna Rotary Club

WSX Enterprise Limited, a business support organisation helping people start their business and support the growth and development of established businesses.

Laura Read (pictured), General Manager at Westquay, said: “This has been a really challenging year for everyone, and we know that charities and other organisations across Southampton have really gone the extra mile.

“This project is all about giving something back to those groups that have pulled out all the stops over the past few months, and need a helping hand to ensure they can continue to carry out their valuable work. We are so grateful for everything they have done.”

The Westquay scheme was developed in partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation, who worked with the destination to allocate the grants to those in greatest need.