8th Mansfield Scouts, Takeover Radio and the R.E.A.L. Foundation Trust will benefit from the membership reward scheme at the new Co-op store that opened in the grounds of a refurbished pub in Mansfield.

The trust provides food and structured activities for vulnerable groups, while the radio project will use any money for the fitting out of radio studios and training rooms for the benefit of young local participants.

Community groups benefit from the Co-op’s membership scheme, which sees members receive a 5% reward for the purchase of own-branded products and services, and a further 1% go to local good causes.

The groups benefiting from the scheme change every six months.

The store alongside The Reindeer pub on Southwell Road West has created new jobs amidst a £500,000 investment.

Retail and leisure property company NewRiver, owners of the pub and surrounding land, invested a further £240,000 to transform the pub.

Nearby Asquith Primary School, whose pupils helped at the store opening, received £1,000.

Store manager Callum Flinton said: “We are delighted to have a fantastic new store with which to better serve the local community.

“The response has been amazing.

“We are thrilled to have made such a significant investment in Mansfield — it is an exciting time for the whole team to be involved in the launch of the Co-op’s newest store.

“Our ambition is to establish the store as a local hub, a real asset for the community.”

David Shipton, asset development director for NewRiver’s pub division, added: “Our investment in The Reindeer is a significant one and has helped create a community pub for everyone – a pub that has a wide appeal, including for families.

“We are delighted to see the new store come to life, activating formerly unused land in the pub car park. An important part of our commitment is the investment in the pub itself, in order to ensure it is well-placed to benefit from the new neighbouring store – we believe that the store and the pub will work really well together as a new community hub.”

Richard Wilkinson, area manager for the Co-op, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to be part of the Southwell Road West community, and we want shoppers to know that they can become a co-owner and member of their Co-op.

“We are also giving back to the community.

“Our members can make a difference locally — simply by swiping their membership card when they shop with us they will raise much-needed funding for organisations in the area who contribute to improving local life.”

Pictured are Asquith Primary School pupils helping to launch the new Co-op store with, from left, Susan Flear, Alison Spedding, store manager Callum Finton and Diane Renshaw.