This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 15th, 2012at 5:51 am by anadmin

John Lewis Supports Active Nation

John Lewis Southampton has announced the first three local charities to receive support through its new Community Matters scheme; Active Nation, New Milton Eagles Football Club and Team Rox Dance School, have each received a share of £3,000.

Community Matters sees the retailer split a donation of £3,000 between three community groups every three months according to the proportion of customer votes they receive. Customers vote by using a token voting system located in the shop’s Place to Eat restaurant. The charities receive support as either John Lewis products, volunteering time from Partners (staff), or as financial support.

Active Nation received the majority of the vote, just under 43%, and received a donation from John Lewis of £1,285, which will help fund a sailing experience for a class of local children. The charity is currently working with a number of under privileged schools in the area, providing them with opportunities to be inspired and experience the pleasure of sport and exercise.

New Milton Eagles Football Club received a donation of £882, after gaining almost 30% of the vote. John Lewis’s support will help fund new equipment, which will enable the club to provide an increased range of football activities.

With the remaining vote, almost 28%, Team Rox Dance School plans to use John Lewis’s donation of £833 to purchase new training equipment.

Mark Venables, managing director of John Lewis Southampton, said:  “Our customers are now familiar with Community Matters and the feedback has been great – people stop and take time to choose the charity they’d like to see John Lewis support. It is exciting for us to see how the vote has been split and for us to now make the donations to these very worthwhile community groups.”

Andrew Jarvis, football coach at New Milton Eagles Football Club said: “We are so happy John Lewis has supported our project, which will make such a difference to the children who use our services. John Lewis’s donation will be used towards improving our training and match day facilities and encouraging more young people to join in and expand on their sporting talents, while keeping fit and active.”

Organisations who would like to be considered as part of Community Matters should visit John Lewis Southampton to pick up a nomination form from the Community Matters collection box in the Place to Eat restaurant.

 The next charities to be supported by John Lewis Southampton, which have been nominated by our customers, include:  Life Changes Counselling, Hampshire Harriels Wheelchair Basketball Club and 12 charities requiring smaller donations.