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SPAR
Community Community Cashback 2025 – North of England Winners
Competition

This year, SPAR’s annual Community Cashback grant scheme awarded a combined £25,000 to eight organisations throughout the North of England.

  • £10k Down Syndrome Cheshire
  • £5k Bendrigg
  • £5k Preston Sports Club Limited
  • £1k Semitones
  • £1k Solway Red Squirrel Group
  • £1k Sunday talks at whale hill community centre
  • £1k Saltburn Folk Festival
  • £1k Gilberdyke Cricket Club
Down Syndrome Cheshire

Down Syndrome Cheshire was awarded a grant of £10,000 in recognition of the support they provide to 350 individuals with Down syndrome and their families across Cheshire every year. They provide lifelong support through social, emotional, practical and advocacy services, offering safe spaces, specialist sessions, and inclusive opportunities that empower individuals and strengthen families. They work across all age groups and are proud to be a constant presence in our members’ lives.

Katie Bridge at Down Syndrome Cheshire said:

“This grant will enable us to provide vital family support at key moments of transition, such as diagnosis, starting school, or entering adulthood, times when many families feel overwhelmed or alone. With this funding, we can offer tailored advice, peer support, and emotional care that will help up to 100 families feel more confident, informed and connected to their community.”

The £10,000 will support weekly information sessions, peer-led discussion groups, emotional wellbeing support and drop-in spaces for families. It will allow us to deliver timely, accessible guidance on EHCPs, adult care, benefits, legal rights, and bereavement, equipping families with the tools they need to navigate challenging life stages with confidence and clarity.

Katie added:

“Families of people with Down syndrome are often left out of mainstream support systems. Being part of a team that works to change that and walk alongside families through every stage is incredibly meaningful.”
Bendrigg residential activity centre in Cumbria

Awarded a grant of £5,000, Bendrigg is a residential activity centre in Cumbria that specialises in supporting young disabled people to access outdoor adventures like climbing, kayaking, caving, archery and bike riding.

With around 4,000 visitors from all over the UK each year their amazing staff, extensive kit stores, and fully accessible building are the magic formula to make sure that every single person that wants to take part is supported to be adventurous and take on exciting challenges.

Elizabeth Feltoe from Bendrigg said:

“This grant is a such a boost to Bendrigg and our fundraising efforts for the new sensory room, and it’s brilliant to have the support of the SPAR Community Cashback scheme. The sensory room is really well-loved and having a renovation will make it even more special for our disabled visitors.”

The grant will be used to refresh Bendrigg’s much-loved sensory room, replacing outdated equipment with user-friendly features like a star projector, musical wall, fibre optic carpet and bubble tubes - allowing children to interact and explore independently. A new ‘H’ hoist will ensure wheelchair users can access all parts of the room safely and inclusively. In the midst of exciting, sometimes overwhelming new experiences, the sensory room offers a peaceful space to recharge before jumping back into the adventure.

Preston Sports Club

Preston Sports Club were awarded a grant of £5,000. Based in Broadgate, Preston, they are based in an area facing significant socio-economic challenges across income, employment, health, crime, and the living environment. They have a vision to uplift the community, by delivering:

  • Sustainable, first-class sporting facilities and coaching
  • A vibrant hub for local development and regeneration
  • A strong focus on youth engagement and growth

The grant will be used to pay for coaching fees and for a second practice net, which will allow the club to develop their junior team by doubling the number of players.

Supporting communities in the North of England

Five other organisations in the North of England were also successful, each being awarded grants of £1,000 help to tackle an issue in their local community.

Semitones, a community orchestra based in Gosforth, Newcastle consists of volunteer musicians and play concerts in local care homes.

Gilberdyke Cricket Club provide the whole community with an opportunity to participate in physical exercise in a safe controlled environment. The grant will enable them to pay a proportion of the 2025 service charge and purchase some additional coaching equipment.

Saltburn Folk Festival

Solway Red Squirrel Group

Sunday talks at whale hill community centre

Community Cashback 2025 Winners

Find out more about the rest of our 2025 Community Cashback Winners. 

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