SPAR UK Ltd

SPAR, the UK's leading convenience store group, has chosen the NSPCC, and our sister charity in Scotland CHILDREN 1ST, as its nominated charity until May 2011.

A partnership to engage local communities

As part of a five-year partnership, SPAR retailers, employees at its 2,600 stores and SPAR offices, have been running a variety of events to raise funds for their local NSPCC projects and services. SPAR is at the heart of thousands of communities and has therefore played a key role in helping the NSPCC raise awareness amongst local customers about protecting children and preventing child abuse in the UK.

Doubling the target to raise £2 million

In May 2008 SPAR UK Ltd reached its fundraising target of £1million for children and young people. Through their enthusiasm and commitment to ending cruelty to children they have now doubled this figure and raised over £2 million.

To achieve this, staff have held a range of fundraising activities which have included Easter, Halloween and Christmas parties in stores. Stop 4 Tea, which ran in May 2010 across selected stores around the UK, helped the partnership pass the £2 million target.

Successful cause related marketing activities

In addition to customer and staff fundraising, SPAR UK Ltd has organised several cause related marketing activities. These have been hugely successful, raising £20,000 from a promotion on a range of sandwiches and a further £25,000 on a promotion with Mars-Galaxy, to name but a few.

SPAR UK are currently sponsoring a new cookery series called 'Meals in Moments' on Channel 5. Chef Simon Rimmer will be joined by celebrity guests to cook up a quick and easy family favourite dish.

The TV series will be accompanied by a recipe book with over 60 mouth watering recipes including all the celebrity dishes from the programme. Guests include Edith Bowman, Linda Barker, Rowland Rivron, Ben de Lisi and Dane Bowers.

The book is available from participating SPAR stores and online from Amazon for only £4.99. For every book sold 50p will be donated to the NSPCC and CHILDREN 1ST in Scotland. This is a brilliant Christmas present to give a loved one and great value!

SPAR are also encouraging customers to host Dinner Parties during October to have fun and raise money to help end cruelty to children in the UK. To find out how to take part, go to visit their fundraising page.

An award winning partnership

In September 2007, SPAR UK Ltd was awarded the Retail Industry Outstanding Achievement award, in recognition of its focus on the local community and its support for the NSPCC.

Jerry Marwood, SPAR managing director said:

Managing director of SPAR UK Ltd, Jerry Marwood said: "As a business we have been passionate about supporting the NSPCC and CHILDREN 1ST. Awareness of our fundraising activities in SPAR stores around the country has exceeded our expectations. Now more than ever, we are grateful to our customers who have given generously to the NSPCC and CHILDREN 1ST."

"We are passionate about what we provide and aim to offer our customers better stores, better products and the services they want – locally. To this end, we are delighted that our stores have raised over £2 million to help protect children at immediate risk."

Paul Amadi, NSPCC director of fundraising said:

"The NSPCC's partnership with SPAR has been a tremendous success. With a challenging economic backdrop, it's a testament to the dedication and hard work of SPAR stores that so much money has been raised during this period.

"Working with SPAR over the past four years has also increased awareness of the NSPCC Helpline and ChildLine amongst thousands of employees and customers."