Since its founding in 2008, Nisa’s charitable initiative, Making a Difference Locally (MADL), has raised an impressive £18 million for small causes and community groups across the UK. Through its innovative funding model, MADL continues to empower independent retailers to support their local communities in meaningful ways.
Community-driven charity
MADL operates as Nisa’s registered charity, enabling independent retailers to raise and distribute funds to local beneficiaries. The funds are primarily raised through the sale of Co-op own-brand products, with retailers choosing the local causes that will benefit from their donations. Additionally, MADL leverages in-store collection tins and clothing banks to gather more funds, with clothing banks contributing £85,000 and collection tins raising over £200,000 for local causes. Since September 2023 alone, over £1 million has been raised through 2,000 individual donations by Nisa retailers, demonstrating the continuous and growing impact of the initiative.
Record-breaking contributions in 2024
This year has proven to be another standout period for MADL, with over £100,000 per month being raised across the retailer group through Co-op product sales. Notably, several retailers achieved major milestones:
- Proudfoot Supermarkets celebrated £200,000 in donations in July 2024
- Dike & Son and LA Foods reached £100,000 each in their community contributions
- The Pricewatch Group marked an impressive £75,000 in donations to local causes
These achievements highlight the dedication of Nisa retailers to enhancing the communities in which they operate.
Sitting at the heart of the community
One of the cornerstone initiatives under the MADL umbrella is the ‘Heart of the Community’ funding programme, which focuses on strengthening local communities. In 2024, the initiative reached new heights with its largest-ever funding pot of £250,000. The ‘Stronger Communities’ campaign is the latest in a series of efforts to support local causes, following earlier campaigns such as ‘Brighter Futures’ and ‘Food Pantries’. This record-breaking fund has enabled MADL to extend even greater financial support to community projects that might otherwise struggle to find funding.
Recognised for community engagement
MADL’s dedication to local communities hasn’t gone unnoticed. The charity won the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award at the Retail Industry Awards. And was recently shortlisted for the ‘Community Engagement Programme of the Year’ award at the People in Retail Awards. This recognition underscores the organisation’s ongoing commitment to enhancing community life and making a lasting impact on the ground.
Kate Carroll, Head of Charity at Nisa, expressed her pride in the achievement:
‘I’m so proud of our retailers for reaching the £18 million raised milestone, and I’m equally proud of our MADL team for the extraordinary work they do to ensure our retailers can provide this support back to their communities.’
She continued, ‘Currently the marketplace is tough for retailers. But their work remains unrivalled, and I know how appreciative their communities are of this vital support.’
So what’s next?
As MADL continues to grow and evolve, its impact on communities across the UK only strengthens. With retailers raising over £100,000 every month, and more initiatives on the horizon, Nisa’s charity is well positioned to keep making a difference locally, ensuring that smaller community groups receive the support they need to thrive.
Get in touch
Supporting your community has never been more prevalent and the MADL team is here to help you. If you’re unsure who to support with your store’s MADL funds, or want to know more about our latest funding initiatives, please get in touch at makingadifference@nisaretail.com.