A SIMPLE swipe of a Co-op card has given three local charities a share of more than £15,000

Staff and customers at the Lochgelly, Cowdenbeath and Kinross stores raised the cash through a loyalty scheme.

And it was split with Fife Young Carers picking up £5,123, the Friends of Gordon Cottage receiving £4,967 and Kinross-shire Day Centre getting £4,970.

Fiona Folks, assistant manager at the Lochgelly Co-op, explained: "The Co-op has a membership scheme card and every time they swipe their card five per cent gets paid to the customer and one per cent gets paid to local charities.

"The money we raised included the 5p carrier bag charge too."

Fife Young Carers, a Lochgelly-based charity, offers help to young people who take care of somebody.

They collected their share in the town's store last week and Fiona said: "Fife Young Carers came in to get the cheque and they were really over the moon.

"We had a special day in the store so we could make the customers aware of where their money goes, and that by swiping their card they're helping local charities and putting the Co-op back in the community."

Nina Collins, manager at Fife Young Carers, said: "It's more money than we could have expected and it means we will be able to do additional sessions with the funding.

"We have a drama therapist who works with young carers to help them express how they feel and identify who's there for them.

"It has key goals for young people in terms of their emotional wellbeing, we did it before and it had really positive outcomes for the people that took part.

"It will enable us to do more of these sessions."

She added: "We would like to thank the Co-op and their customers for choosing to donate their one per cent to our charity. It will make a huge difference to the young people that we support."

The Friends of Gordon Cottage received their cheque in the Cowdenbeath store.

Co-op store manager Kirsty Cummings said they were delighted they were able to raise so much money.

She said: "The community groups had to register to be eligible to receive part of this one per cent.

"Between the stores, we managed to raise £15,060 which was great and the charities were over the moon with it.

"It goes to local community groups which is great as we know where it is going and what it is going to be spent on.

"Gordon Cottage are going to buy brand new car seats so they can transport the kids."