This Christmas, M&S and charity platform, Neighbourly, have joined forces to gift £1000 funding to 1000 individual charity groups across the UK, as part of the M&S Clothing & Home Christmas' Gifts that Give' campaign.

As part of this £1,000000 national campaign, two Macclesfield causes will share a grand from the new Macclesfield M&S Barracks Mill store.

The donations began in early November, after M&S figures 69% of local community groups reported a rise in pressure on services, but a drop in funding.

Now that Macclesfield's food-only M&S has opened, they have presented £500 each to Macclesfield based charities Upton Youth & Community Project and Cre8 Macclesfield.

The store opened at the end of November.

Upton Youth & Community Project operates a community hub for local residents and provides access to high quality, low cost food and household items for those struggling financially.

Members pay £3.50 each time they visit and can choose up to 15 food and household items plus as much fresh fruit, vegetables and bread as they would like. Upton Youth & Community Project also offers services and activities including funded exercise classes, falls prevention, blood donation and youth and children's activities.

Cre8 Macclesfield aims to stop usable food going to landfill by redistributing it to families who need access to affordable, good quality food. Based on the Moss estate, Cre8 Macclesfield currently supports up to 170 families per week in addition to helping other local food organisations with logistical and transport support.

Andrea Fitton, Core Pantry Manger of Upton Youth & Community Project said: "Everyone deserves the security of knowing that they will be able to feed and enjoy themselves this Christmas. Thanks to the donation from M&S, we'll be able to provide Christmas boxes for our "Eat Well at Christmas" scheme,which provides food and Christmas treats for those who otherwise could not afford them. I'd like to thank M&S and our tireless volunteers, without whom this wouldn't be possible."

The Barracks Mill Retail Park has been created by Cedar Invests. M&S moved from their Mill Street site to open a new store here.

Graham Brown, Project GROW Coordinator of Cre8 Macclesfield, said: "The donation from M&S will help us to secure enough food to support our existing user base and increase the number of visitors we can facilitate using our grocery. This is increasingly important as families face rising food inflation and increased energy costs."

A true celebration of togetherness and community, the Gifts that Give campaign joyfully brings-to-life how a gift given from M&S this Christmas will keep on giving.

Macclesfield Store Manager, Lindsey Malone, said: "Although a time of celebration, Christmas can also bring significant financial pressure to families and charities. Based in Macclesfield and run by local people, our store team feel passionate about working with both Upton Youth & Community Project and Cre8 Macclesfield and are proud to have helped them support and empower so many people in our community with this donation."

Nationwide, M&S is also donating 95,000 products directly to groups, worth £50,000.

Every time customers shop with Sparks, M&S donates to their chosen charity. Customers can also find choices in-store to help reduce waste, such as frozen garlic bread made from unsold loaves and baguettes.

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