Charities

Charities

We believe that business can make a positive difference to local communities through support for charitable causes.

But it's about much more than cash donations. Our stores are at the very centre of their communities and play a vital and positive role. The challenge is to bring business and the voluntary sector closer together, allowing our combined knowledge, skills and expertise to be put to good use for the benefit of all.

By 2020, we'll have donated over £400 million to charitable causes in the decade.

Read more about our commitments and progress in Sainsbury's 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan.

Red Nose Day

It’s time to nominate your favourite local charity

local charity poster

This week, our local charity scheme re-launches for the fourth year; this means that all of our customers and colleagues have the chance to nominate their favourite local charity, who could then be supported by their local store, depot or support centre, through a year’s worth of fund and awareness raising.

By Andy White on 09 May 2012

Back to school with Gwyn Burr and Teach First

Gwyn Burr Teach First

Yesterday I had the chance to accompany Gwyn Burr to Sir John Thursby Community College in Burnley, where she spent an hour talking to students about her role as Sainsbury’s Customer Service and Colleague Director, drawing on her professional life to inform their lesson.

By Andy White on 15 March 2012

1.2 million meals donated to FareShare

Fareshare Million Meals appeal

On Saturday we launched our first ever national food drive, the One Million Meal Appeal with our charity partner FareShare. The appeal involved asking customers to add one extra store cupboard item to their shop, which they then put in a trolley behind the checkouts. Following the event, the food was sent to FareShare’s 17 depots across the country before being redistributed to the 700 charities served by FareShare on a daily basis.

By Andy White on 29 November 2011

Our economic and social impact

sport relief fundraising

Any company with 150,000 colleagues and over 900 stores is always going to make a major economic impact and even more so in tough economic times, when other sources of employment are being stretched or reduced. As a responsible retailer we look to ensure that these impacts are positive and being a good neighbour is central to our local engagement.

By Andy White on 03 October 2011

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4 comments for “Charities”

  • Amy 25 January 2012 at 22:14:37

    How do I out forward a local charity for consideration at my local store?

  • Andy White02 February 2012 at 17:57:15

    Hi Amy - each May we give our colleagues and customers the opportunity to nominate their favourite local charity to become their stores chosen local charity partner. Our stores then select one of the nominated charities to work with through fundraising and volunteering over the course of the next year. I would encourage you to nominate your favourite local charity in your local Sainsbury's from the 9th - 23rd May. Hope that helps, Andy.

  • Catherine Kenney01 April 2012 at 19:46:48

    Would a non-profit making social enterprise qualify or does it need to be a registered charity?

  • Andy White02 April 2012 at 14:01:26

    Hi Catherine - only registered charities are supported through our local charity programme. We do however have community grants in each store to support other community based organisations (charitable and non charitable) and I would suggest that you contact your local store to discuss this and your project further. Hope that helps, Andy.