A family from Barton has helped Central England Co-operative celebrate raising £1.5 million for its corporate charity partner Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children.

Matthew Smith and his mum Christine were on hand to help accept the cheque from society chief executive Martyn Cheatle after some of the funds raised were used to provide vital support for the 19-year-old.

Matthew has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, is registered blind and unable to communicate. Money raised by Central England Co-operative colleagues, members and customers has provided the £2,222 specialist seating he needs to sit comfortably – and fully supported – at home.

This seating will help prevent further deterioration of his condition.

Christine said: “Everyone needs somewhere comfortable to relax, but Matthew didn’t really have this.

“Now he has a ‘chill-out chair’ so he can be more involved in family life and because it’s on wheels, I’ll be able to take Matthew out into the garden knowing he is fully secure, comfortable and – above all – sitting in a position that won’t impact on his health thanks to Newlife and Central England Co-operative.”

The society has been supporting the charity that helps disabled children for more than four years and during that time colleagues across 16 counties have done everything from bungee jumps and ultra-marathons to cake sales and fashion parties to raise vital funds for the good cause.

The society’s continued partnership with Newlife has been boosted by the fact that every pound raised by Central England Co-operative colleagues, members and customers has been able to be directly invested back into the community it has been donated from.

This has meant, for example, that for every £1,000 donated in East Staffordshire, families in East Staffordshire have directly benefited from life changing equipment that allows children with disabilities and serious illnesses to enjoy better, more fulfilling lives.

Central England Co-operative funding recipient Matthew Smith and his mum Christine, from Barton under Needwood, with Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children community nurse Karen Dobson

Central England Co-operative chief executive Martyn Cheatle said: “We have enjoyed every moment of our long and extremely successful partnership with Newlife.

“During the four years that Newlife has been our corporate charity we have built a strong relationship and raised a significant amount of money that has helped change and improve the lives of children who live in the communities in which we serve.

“I would like to praise the dedication of the society’s colleagues, members and customers because without their support we would never have been able to raise £1.5 million for this great cause.

“As a community retailer and responsible business, it has been great to know that every penny raised as part of this charity campaign has gone to improve the lives of families in our trading area, leaving a lasting impact for many years to come.”

Figures have revealed that a total of 625 children have been helped as a result of money raised throughout the partnership between Central England Co-operative and Newlife.

Newlife chief executive Sheila Brown said: “The four years of our amazing charity partnership has seen Central England Co-operative help Newlife fund vital equipment for more than 625 disabled and terminally ill children across the company’s trading area.

“The £1.5 million that Central England Co-operative colleagues and customers have raised for Newlife has funded everything from wheelchairs and walkers for mobility through specialist beds and buggies for safety to portable hoists and bespoke seating to reduce pain.

“Vital equipment for children in every area where Central England Co-operative operates – from South Yorkshire down to the West Midlands and from Staffordshire across to Norfolk . . . and all points in between.

Central England Co-operative chief executive Martyn Cheatle celebrates raising £1.5 million for Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children with charity chief executive Sheila Brown.

“Without the support of Central England Co-operative, many of these children would have gone without the vital equipment they needed altogether – and many more would have had to wait for funding to be found.

“We are so grateful for all the wonderful – and sometimes weird and wacky – ways in which staff have chosen to fund-raise for Newlife. It has been a real pleasure for us to play a small part in their enthusiasm and creativity. We thank you all.”

Central England Co-operative, which has stores across Burton and South Derbyshire, is set to announce its corporate charity partner for 2017/2018 in August.

More about the Newlife charity

The Newlife charity provides thousands of items of equipment for disabled children to help improve their lives in some way.

Childhood cancers, birth defects, accidents, diseases and infections can all cause a disability and the charity aims to help as many of these children of possible.

The charity supports children and families, campaigns for a better future and helps with research to improve child health.

It also has a care services team which provides a supportive helpline with information for families and professionals caring for disabled and terminally ill children. The helpline has qualified and experienced nurses who are able to provide confidential information and compassionate support.