TEA parties will be organised for sick children – thanks to a donation from a Basingstoke business.

The Co-operative Group gave £1,940 to Muffin’s Dream Foundation, set up by Charlie Porter, from Elmwood Way, Winklebury, to help disabled children and young people aged up to 25.

Charlie was born with spina bifida and was ill throughout much of her childhood. But the determined 23-year-old has not let her disability hold her back, and is now using her experience to benefit other sick children.

Her charity received the funds from The Co-operative’s Membership Community Fund, which was donated by member customers at the Winklebury store, before being distributed to good causes in the area.

Charlie said: “Funding is becoming ever harder to secure. Therefore, we were delighted to hear that we were successful in securing this grant from The Co-operative.

“The cash has made a huge difference to our group, and it means all the more knowing that the money has been donated by local people.”

Helen Carter, from The Co-operative’s Solent area committee, added: “Supporting local communities has been an inherent part of The Co-operative’s values and principles since the very beginning of the Co-operative Movement.

“We are particularly proud of our Community Fund, as it demonstrates how the generosity of our members can make a real difference in their local area, and now we have stores and branches in every postal area of the UK it makes it all the more relevant.”

Muffin’s Dream Foundation also received another cash-boost from a festive lights switch-on event in Winklebury.

Matt Beckett and Debbie Clark, from Wilmott Way, decked their house out in Christmas lights and invited people to donate funds to the charity in return for joining in with the big switch-on.