SAINSBURY’S in Northwich is to give its backing to a Downs Syndrome Support Group over the next 12 months after asking its customers who they would like to help.

Following an online and in-store vote among its customers the store has announced that the Cheshire Downs Syndrome Support Group will be the store’s new Local Charity of the Year for 2016/17.

The support group is based in Witton Street, Northwich, and provides support and services for families of children and young adults across Cheshire.

This year’s Local Charity scheme began at the end of May, when Sainsbury’s colleagues shortlisted a maximum of three charities to be put forward to the vote by the supermarket’s customers.

Cheshire Downs Syndrome Support Group received the most votes, and will receive a year’s worth of fundraising and awareness-raising from the store.

To celebrate the announcement a launch event will take place at the Northwich store between August 5 and 7.

Customers will have the chance to meet representatives from the charity and learn more about the work they do.

The store team will also be fundraising for the new charity in a number of ways.

The support group’s chief executive officer, Julie Duff said: “We would like to thank everyone who voted for us.

“Becoming Sainsbury’s Northwich Local Charity of the Year will make a huge difference to our small charity.

“We are looking forward to the partnership and working closely with the colleagues at the Northwich store.”

Sainsbury’s Northwich manager Iain Johns said: I would like to say congratulations to the support group.

“It’s great to be working with a new charity this year, and my colleagues are really excited about the partnership.”

The Local Charity scheme is in its eighth year. The scheme has raised over £11 million to support local charities since 2009.

Cheshire Downs Syndrome Support Group provides a support network for parents and carers of children with Downs Syndrome, raises awareness of the condition in local communities and promotes and supports the use of ‘best practice’ strategies in educational settings to maximise the potential of children with Downs Syndrome.