Borras Co-op gives young people a voice with sponsored silence for charity

A Wrexham Co-op store has helped to give young people a voice with sponsored silence to support Barnardo’s

The Borras Park store raised more than £1,000 with a sponsored silence for the charity.

Pat Gillam, 65, took on the challenge as she is described as being “well liked and, very popular and chatty with the store’s regular customers, and the heart and soul of the store” – and the store team knew that remaining quiet would not be easy for Pat.

After remaining silent for six hours, Pat and the store team raised £1,140. Money that will be donated to Co-op’s charity partner, Barnardo’s.

Pat said: “I knew I would find it hard, staying silent doesn’t come naturally to me as I enjoy talking to our regular customers – but it is such a great cause, and the whole team is getting behind raising awareness and funds to support young people through Co-op’s partnership with Barnardo’s.”

Co-op is working with Barnardo’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity, and aims to raise £5Million to support 750,000 young people across the UK to access basic needs like food, manage their mental wellbeing and take advantage of opportunities for their future.