AN EARLY Christmas present has been given to 16 Isle of Wight causes, thanks to the Co-op.

The Co-op revealed it has given £76,000 in a festive funding boost to organisations which are making a real difference to communities locally.

These include Jigsaw Family Support, The Friends of Shanklin Theatre, and Ventnor Skatepark, who want a purpose-built, free to use, concrete skatepark facility.

This is the latest round of pay-outs from the fund generated by Co-op members on the Island, and means the Co-op has invested £156,000 in 48 groups on the Isle of Wight since the membership scheme launched in September 2016.

Co-op members, who receive a five per cent reward for themselves with a further one per cent going to local causes when they buy own-brand products, have a say in how the money is allocated, and are encouraged to select the organisations they wish to support.

Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community engagement at the Co-op, said: "Since the launch of the local community fund our members have helped 12,000 organisations to make a positive difference in their neighbourhoods, and in the last 12 months alone we have invested £19m in local causes.

"The fund is now supporting a wide variety of local organisations, from village halls and support groups to education providers and neighbourhood watch schemes, all of which are helping to make the Isle of Wight a better, happier, and healthier place to live."

The causes are: Freshwater Independent Lifeboat, The Footprint Trust, Alzheimer Cafe IW, Jigsaw Family Support, Daisy Chains IW, The Isle of Wight Foodbank, Friends of Shanklin Theatre, RSPCA Isle of Wight, Sandown and Shanklin Lions, St. James Rose Window Restoration, Whitwell Parish Church of St Mary and St Rhadegund, The Wildheart Trust at Isle of Wight Zoo, Ability Dogs 4 Young People, Isle of Wight Pony Club and Ventnor Skatepark.