A giant supermarket chain has invested £20 million in Sussex.

The Co-operative has refitted more than 90 of its food stores across the county in the last two years. The programme includes the £350,000 refit of its store in St James’s Street Brighton.

Stephanie Mizon, co-operative and membership officer for Sussex said 2010 saw £70,000 given back to community groups and projects across Sussex.

She said: “Because our membership has grown so significantly in recent years there is more money than ever up for grabs in 2011. Our June payout has just seen over £15,000 invested back into our community.”

Local groups that have benefitted from the community fund include the Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Search Team, who received £686 for new radio and GPS equipment; Hastings and St Leonards Priory Cricket Club who received £2,000 to install a non-turf cricket pitch for their 50 disabled members to use and the Phoenix Stroke Club in Horsham, awarded £1,790 to provide arts and crafts sessions for members with physical and sensory disabilities.

The Little Common Football Club in Bexhill has received £979 to establish a Mini Kickers scheme for children under the age of six. Daniel Eldridge from the club said the grant would be used to purchase balls, portable goals and other training equipment. Another local scheme helped by the Co-operative’s Community Fund is the Brighton Clickers Community Photography Group.

A grant of £500 will allow the group to employ the services of a qualified photography teacher to help guide their activities. The fund offers grants of between £100 and £2,000 to community projects across the country.

Awards are allocated based on a set of values and principles such as social responsibility and caring for others.

Application forms are available online at www.co-operative. coop/communityfund or by phoning 0844 262 4001