Welsh forecourt operator and Top 50 Indie Ascona has helped raise £16,000 for a local lifeboat charity through its Nisa stores.
All Ascona’s 70 forecourts feature a Nisa store, with the Co-op owned brand contributing to the latter’s Making a Difference Locally Charity, which sees Co-op branded products generate charity donations, which are given to good causes chosen by retailers.
Ascona opted for its contribution to go to Angle Lifeboat and Milford Haven RNLI, which were selected by founder Darren Briggs due to Milford Haven being his hometown, and Ascona being named after a trawler operated by his great-grandfather.
Briggs comments: “Milford Haven is where I grew up and it has always been very close to my heart, so being able to give something back locally means a great deal to me.
“There is also a lovely connection through the Ascona name, which was inspired by my great-grandfather Charles’ trawler called Ascona which operated between Milford Haven and Lowestoft in the 1950s.
“As a business, we believe commercial success should create opportunities to make a lasting difference in the communities we serve, and supporting the RNLI is a great example of that.”
Ascona staff were given a tour of the lifeboat at a ceremony that saw the cheque presented.
RNLI community manager Alice Coleman says the organisation is “incredibly grateful to Ascona Group for this generous donation”, adding that the charity “relies on the kindness and support of organisations and individuals in our communities”.
RNLI lifeboat crews in Wales launched 1,180 times last year, helping 948 people and saving 51 lives.
