A £1,000 donation from Gillingham’s Waitrose has been divided between three community groups that had been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the supermarket’s green token scheme coming to a halt as a result of the virus outbreak, cheques worth around £333 were awarded to Dementia Friendly Gillingham, Top Brass and Wind Band and the Green Gillingham Action for Nature Group (GANG).

Cheques were presented to representatives of each group by Stuart Bedford, Waitrose assistant team manager.

The Dementia Friendly Gillingham committee, made up of Anne Kings, Hilary Drake and mayor of Gillingham Barry Von Clemens, is now looking forward to resuming events and activities including ‘Singing for the Brain’ and ‘Music and Movement’.

The Green GANG is a group of adults, recovering from issues associated with mental health, who work together for the environment.

Previously they have created footpaths, planted trees, painted benches and installed new ones.

The Top Brass and Wind Band has become well known for performing at fundraising concerts across Gillingham and Mere.