TH!NK FC in Coalville has been handed a £2,000 grant from Central England Co-op as part of a revamped Community Dividend Fund aimed at providing quick funding boosts to help those impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak.

The money will be used to support a project to boost the mental health of the local community.

Deana Wildgoose, from TH!NK FC, said: "We are delighted to receive this funding.

"It will be used to support Central England Co-op providing TH!NK tools and resources to support people to stay positive, take control and make better decisions.

"We appreciate it's a really tough time for people, and this is made worse by the unfair distribution of wealth, power and resources.

"There are so many people and communities without the networks, assets or self-belief to get what they need.

"Our mission is to level the playing field - these tools might just help that to happen.

"Like Central England, we believe in purpose before profit.

"We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to sharing with your team."

In all, Central England Co-op has handed out £21,000 to 11 charities and good causes.

Deana told Coalville Nub News: "The plan is to share some of the TH!NK tools with the Central England Co-op Mental Health Champions and their invited friends.

"These might be a community group or support group representatives so we can all learn and share together.

"Over a series of Zooms, we shall be sharing some of the tools we have developed to help with creating a more helpful mindset, for setting and achieving goals, for making better decisions and taking action to name a few.

"The participants will use the tools to think about how they can then best share them with others .

"These tools are all derived from useful business tools made accessible and fun.

"One of the tools will be the What Could I Bird, a tool to help turn hindering thoughts into more helpful ones.

"This is based on serious 'thinking research' and is delivered through origami!

"We have shared these with people of all ages up and down the country.

"Once made, if you have a hindering thought this tool will help you spot them and it can also be used to help you move to somewhere more helpful!"

The THINK tools and other resources can be downloaded free from their website HERE.

Normally, grants from the fund are handed out four times a year to a wide range of organisations but, during the coming months, Central England Co-op has decided to hand grants out on a monthly basis to support those suffering financial hardship due to the pandemic and others looking to step in to help those affected.

Organisations in the following areas have benefitted from a grant: Huddersfield, Lichfield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Peterborough, Leicestershire, Burton and Stafford.

Jim Watts, Society Secretary, said: "In response to the current crisis, we made some changes to our Community Dividend Fund scheme to provide immediate financial support for local good causes, community groups and charities who are responding to some of the most worrying impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Community Dividend Fund grants showcase how by being a member and shopping at your local Central England Co-op store allows us as a Society to continue to invest and fund vital projects in the area – especially during uncertain times like these.

"We are delighted to have been able to support these amazing causes and help them make a difference in our communities."

To apply, members will need: name, address, membership number, organisation type, organisation bank account or constitution and to explain what the group does, how the grant will be spent and the specific impact it will have related to Covid-19.