THE Co-op is to donate 50 pence for every vote cast at this year's annual general meeting.

Members across the south and south east have the opportunity to raise £160,000 for a two-year British Red Cross campaign aiming to tackle loneliness.

All members of the Co-op have recently received their voting packs, which give them the opportunity to decide on motions and elect who represents them on the board.

They can vote by post or online ahead of the organisation's AGM on May 21.

Staff at the Newhaven branch helped promote the initiative last week.

Conor Gallen, Newhaven store manager, said: “There’s a double benefit here - raising money to fight loneliness with British Red Cross and getting members involved in the future of our business.

"We want to show that being a member of a Co-op means that you get a say in the way the organisation is run.”

The Co-operative has around 320,00 members in the south and south. If they all voted, £160,000 could be raised.