STROUD District Foodbank will receive a year's worth of fundraising and awareness support from Sainsbury's.

It is the sixth year of Sainsbury's Local Charity partner scheme, which has raised over £6 million for local charities.

The Stroud District Foodbank who support local families with much needed everyday essentials will be the new Local Charity for the Stroud store.

To celebrate the announcement, a launch day took place in Sainsbury's, Dudbridge on Tuesday,July 15 when the store team began fundraising for the new charity by holding a collection.

The retailer’s Local Charity scheme is now in its sixth year and gives customers the chance to vote for their favourite local charity to be considered to receive a year’s worth of support from their Sainsbury’s store, the scheme has so far raised over £6 million to support local charities.

Dudbridge Sainsbury's has had great success in supporting previous local charities and last year raised over £850 for Uplands Playgroup.

Stroud District Foodbank will be using the money to purchase everyday essential items and raising awareness of the work they do in the local area.

Customers had a huge say in this year’s announcement and voted in-store and online between Wednesday, May 28 and Sunday, June 8.

Will Mansell from Stroud District Foodbank said: "Stroud District Foodbank is really excited about our new partnership with Sainsbury's Stroud. The chance to work closely with them will mean we can raise awareness, collect food and raise money that is vital in continuing our essential work and will help us develop the important service we provide to the community”.

Sainsbury’s Stroud Store Manager said: “We have had a great response from our customers this year, both through in-store and online votes. We are delighted to have chosen a charity which touched many of our colleagues’ hearts. We will now be working closely with the charity to ensure they really benefit from being our Local Charity for the next 12 months”.