Tamworth Co-op bonus to stroke support group

A vital support group, which caters for people who have suffered strokes, has received a cash bonus from the Tamworth Co-operative Society.

Trevor Baker, chairman and treasurer of Tamworth Stroke Patients and their Carers Group, receives a cheque from Tamworth Co-op’s Ron Constable (right) in front of several members who attend the monthly meetings at the Carnegie Centre.

Trevor Baker, chairman and treasurer of Tamworth Stroke Patients and their Carers Group, receives a cheque from Tamworth Co-op’s Ron Constable (right) in front of several members who attend the monthly meetings at the Carnegie Centre.

Trevor Baker, chairman and treasurer of Tamworth Stroke Patients and their Carers Group, receives a cheque from Tamworth Co-op’s Ron Constable (right) in front of several members who attend the monthly meetings at the Carnegie Centre.

Tamworth Stroke Patients and their Carers group has been going since 1998 with around 20 people meeting up on the first Friday of the month at Tamworth Carnegie Centre in Corporation Street (1.30-5pm).

The group has received a cheque for £250 from the Society which will be used to help fund an outing to West Midlands Safari Park in May.

In addition to providing support for stroke patients and their carers, the group organises talks from health professionals to enhance the wellbeing of members. It also arranges trips to the theatre and other places of interest.

Karen Harrod, secretary of the group, said members are extremely grateful to Tamworth Co-op for its support.

“Without help from people like them many small groups might go out of existence,” she said.

“We constantly need funds to continue our work which can prevent people who have suffered strokes from becoming isolated at home. That can really harm confidence. Strokes can affect limbs, hearing, and sight, but we can accommodate people regardless of how severe their strokes have been.”

The group is one of many community causes to be supported by Tamworth Co-op’s Community Dividend Fund this year.

The money is raised by shoppers at its various branches generously donating the dividends they have earned on their purchases to specific community projects championed by individual branches.

In this case the money for the stroke club was raised by shoppers at the Tamworth Co-op department store in Colehill.