Making A Difference Locally Ltd

Registered Charity Number: 1123800

Making A Difference Locally Ltd is a UK-based registered charity established in May 2008 with the mission to invest in building stronger local communities. The charity operates primarily by enabling independent retailers affiliated with Nisa and Costcutter Supermarkets to raise funds and make donations to local charitable causes across the United Kingdom.

Overview

The charity serves as Nisa's official charitable arm, facilitating independent retail partners to contribute to their local neighborhoods. These retailers generate funds through the sale of specific products, mainly from the Co-op and Nisa Heritage own-brand ranges sold in their stores. Additional fundraising is conducted via in-store collection tins, coin spinners, and clothing banks. Retailers track their accumulated funds via a secure website and nominate local beneficiaries—such as grassroots sports teams, hospices, foodbanks, and various registered charities—to receive donations. These nominations are reviewed and approved by the charity’s Board of Trustees before disbursement.

Mission and Activities

Making A Difference Locally is committed to enhancing community well-being by supporting a diverse range of local charities and good causes. By leveraging the retail network of over 2,500 stores nationwide, the charity provides a platform for grassroots giving, ensuring donations directly impact the communities surrounding each participating store.

Beneficiaries must be local to the store (ideally within a 10-mile radius) and registered as charities or recognized good causes with transparency and accountability. The charity supports a broad spectrum of general charitable activities, emphasizing grassroots and community engagement projects.

Governance

The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees, who serve without remuneration to ensure that funds are distributed responsibly and in alignment with the charity’s objectives. As of the latest reports, the charity employs six trustees and does not have any trading subsidiaries.

Financials

For the financial year ending June 30, 2023, Making A Difference Locally reported a total income of approximately £9,241, with total expenditures of around £1,301,530. The significant difference in income and expenditure may reflect fund distribution or accounting classifications related to donation activities.

Community Impact

Since its inception, the charity has supported thousands of local causes throughout the UK, ranging from grassroots football clubs to hospices and foodbanks. By facilitating donations through local stores, Making A Difference Locally strengthens the ties between independent retailers and the communities they serve, ensuring that local needs are met with timely financial support.

Participation and Support

Community members and customers can participate in the charity’s mission by purchasing qualifying own-brand products at participating stores and donating directly via in-store collection points. Retailers play a central role by selecting local beneficiaries for the funds they raise, contributing to a cycle of community support that benefits both the retailer’s local presence and the wider social good.

This structure enables independent retailers to play an active role in community development, fulfilling the charity's vision to make a tangible difference locally through everyday commerce and community spirit.

[1] https://www.nisalocally.co.uk/corporate/corporate-social-responsibility/making-a-difference-locally/ [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/4038119 [3] https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000000Ng7EEAS/making-a-difference-locally [4] https://www.nisalocally.co.uk/community/ [5] https://www.york.ac.uk/eat-drink-shop/shopping-services/madl/