The MERKUR Community and Initiative programmes were established to provide essential support for smaller charities and good causes. Working in partnership with its high street customers during 2025 the programmes provided over £200,000 of support to 150 grassroots organisations. The cost-of-living crisis has significantly affected charity fundraising, putting at risk the very existence of many of the smaller organisations and good causes that are the backbone of local communities throughout the country. To mark a year of giving, which earned it an EAG Chairman’s Award, MERKUR UK has documented the organisations that it has supported with hard copies of the social impact report being sent to external stakeholders including constituency MPs. An electronic version is available at https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ac891bbc91.html. Coinslot takes a look at some of the organisations MERKUR has supported in 2025 from a Community Kitchen in Bristol to a hip-hop dance company for disadvantaged young people in Oxford.
January
MK FOOD BANK – Milton Keynes
2025 started with an important and timely donation to a community group close to MERKUR UK’s head office in Milton Keynes. The MK Food Bank is an independent service supporting families in and around the city. It has experienced exponential growth developing from a small set-up to an organisation comprising 13-distribution centres working with 100 agencies. The focus is on providing emergency food provision to help families through the crisis of sudden unemployment and family emergencies. Commenting on MERKUR’s £12,000 funding Operations Manager Louisa Hobbs confirmed: “The support from MERKURgenuinely means that local families will be able to feed their children and use heating and hot water for longer during the coldest months.”
February
THE URBAN ROOTS INITIATIVE – Glasgow
Urban Roots is an environmental and health improvement charity working in communities with marginalised and socially excluded groups of people across the Southside of Glasgow. Urban Roots has ten community gardens, a 14-hectare community woodland and a wetland. It runs activities for the local community including gardening sessions, woodland conservation, biodiversity work, community meals and cookery clubs. MERKUR and its customers provided £2,000 of funding enabling Urban Roots to purchase the materials and plants needed to rebuild one of its community gardens.
March
ROW4MND
Blueprint Operations and MERKUR UK jumped aboard to support an incredible challenge to help fund research into Motor Neurone Disease. ROW4MND will see four intrepid rowers complete four full-scale ocean rows in four consecutive years – a feat that’s never been attempted before. ROW4MND draws inspiration from rugby legends Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir, who both became national symbols of courage after their MND diagnoses. The campaign’s ambitious £57 million fundraising target is a tribute to their shirt numbers – Doddie’s number five and Rob’s number seven. ROW4MND’s Mike Bates said: “A project of this scale requires serious backing, and we’re incredibly grateful to Blueprint and MERKUR UK for their support. Their contribution allows us to direct more of our resources where it matters most – towards finding a cure for MND.”
April
GREENWICH POWERCHAIR FOOTBALL CLUB – South London
The Greenwich Powerchair Football Club provides physically disabled individuals with access to Powerchair Football, with regular training sessions and league participation. MERKUR Community provided £1,300 of funding to cover the annual maintenance costs for the powerchairs and to purchase new match balls for training sessions. Reflecting on the support Steve Johnston, Development and Finance Manager explained: “We are very grateful to MERKUR and its customers for their generous support, which will help us maintain our powerchairs and provide essential equipment for our players. Your contribution enables us to continue offering disabled players the joy of playing football, building friendships, and gaining new experiences.”
MAY
BODY POLITIC DANCE – Oxford
Founded in 2012, Body Politic is a non-profit hip hop dance company. Its’ vision is to transform the lives and experiences of young people through impactful and creative learning and outreach programmes. Each year the group works with around 1,500 individuals from some of Oxford’s most vulnerable communities, including those in the most deprived areas nationally. MERKUR Community helped fund summer camps comprising two weeks of dance, creative arts and physical activity. The funding enabled Body Politic to provide free places to 10 young people in receipt of free-school meals
June
DOSPORTUK SALFORD KNIGHTS – Manchester
Disability Opportunities in Sport UK is a CIC that provides sports and physical activity to people with disabilities. The group primarily works with individuals who have learning disabilities and/or autism, aiming to address many of the health and social inequalities these individuals face daily. MERKUR provided £1,000 of funding to the Salford Knights inclusive basketball sessions to help cover court hire and coaching costs for the 2025 season.
JULY
COEXIST COMMUNITY KITCHEN – Bristol
Coexist Community Kitchen is a non-profit cookery school based in Easton, Bristol, which uses food as a means of connecting with individuals facing social marginalisation. Its vision is that everyone should be able to have spaces in which they can share food together, learn skills, and build friendships. It prepares and cooks up to 200 meals each week for anyone in the community who needs them. In addition, it runs a catering service with all profits going back into running the kitchen. MERKUR and its customers provided £2,160 of funding which enabled the purchase of a new turbo convection oven which allows the provision of catering services 2-3 times per week whilst simultaneously running outreach sessions. Joey Callendar-Wood, Community Food, Volunteer and Engagement Manager said: “This oven completes our next catering kitchen, which is vital for us to help generate our own income to fund our community outreach workshops, and support more people facing social marginalisation in our community. Thank you so much!”
AUGUST
RAYS OF SUNSHINE
Bacta nominated charity Rays of Sunshine provides ‘magical wishes’ for children who are seriously ill. MERKUR’s support of £9,800 paid for eight wishes including one to 4-year-old Olivia who wished to stay in the Giraffe Lodge at West Midlands Safari Park and another to 10-year-old Issaac who became a ‘real life’ YouTuber for the day.
SEPTEMBER
CLARE CIC – Belfast
Formed by the North Belfast community, CLARE CIC supports people aged 65+ to reduce social isolation, improve wellbeing, and maintain independence through community-based social work and health development. Activities include one-to-one visits and befriending, practical support such as shopping and prescription collection, health and nutrition programmes, and group music and arts activities. MERKUR’s support helped fund an intergenerational reminiscence lunch for 30 socially isolated service users including venue hire, transport and hospitality.
OCTOBER
BRAIN TUMOUR RESEARCH
Holly Abel and Jordan Kennedy from Blueprint Operations took part in the Brighton Half Marathon to raise money for Brain Tumour Research. They ran in memory of Ann Zommers – Holly’s aunty and Jordan’s grandma – who was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma and sadly passed away in July 2024. MERKUR contributed £500 towards their fundraising, which will help to support research aimed at developing better treatments, improving early diagnosis and ultimately finding a cure.
NOVEMBER
LITTLE LIFTS – Norwich
Little Lifts support people undergoing surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer by giving them a free ‘Little Lifts’ box. As everyone’s experience of breast cancer treatment is different, each box is carefully curated by people who have personal experiences of breast cancer treatment. They include planet-friendly, ethically made items and each box is hand packed by a volunteer from the community. MERKUR has made a £2,000 donation to Little Lifts which will allow them to support breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment, undergoing surgery or radiotherapy.
DECEMBER
RENEWAL PROGRAMME – East London
The Renewal Programme tackles the causes and consequences of poverty, isolation and disadvantage. Support services include a food bank, warm meal provision, a community hub, educational workshops, housing support and women’s coffee mornings. MERKUR provided £4,800 of funding to cover food costs for the group’s Community Sunday Dinners for 48 weeks. The weekly events offer a warm, welcoming space for local people to connect. Alongside the meal, guests can enjoy board games, table tennis and guided community conversations designed to build confidence and self-esteem. CEO Peter Laing commented: “We are immensely grateful for MERKUR’s generous funding. The support means that we can continue to deliver our Community Sunday Dinners in Manor Park for another year, providing hot meals, good company and a place to belong for those most in need.”
To download MERKUR UK’s Social Impact Report: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ac891bbc91.html
