Local charities in Balham are in with a chance of receiving a year's worth of fundraising support thanks to Sainsbury's Balham. The retailer's Local Charity Partner scheme is now in it's forth year and colleagues at the store, situated in Balham High Road, are looking for a local charity who they can provide help and support to from 20th June.

Sainsbury's Balham is asking customers and colleagues to put forward the names of charities based in Balham that are important to them. From 9th to 23rd May, customers can vote for their favourite local charity. To vote, customers simply fill out a form and pop it into the store's Local Charity Partner voting box, situated at the front of the store.

A shortlist of nominations will be drawn up after the closing date and the store's colleagues will then invite the three charities that they feel best fit the needs of the community into store to talk about how Sainsbury's can support them. The store will then choose a charity to partner with for the next 12 months.

Last year, one of the store's Local Charity Partner's was Trinity Hospice. During a year's worth of fundraising, colleagues managed to raise £941. If you would like more information on Trinity hospice please visit www.trinityhospice.org.uk Following the partnership, the store will continue to provide support to the charity, including holding various fun days, colleague dress down days and cakes sales.

Last year, Sainsbury's stores and their customers helped more than 1000 charities and organisations across the UK through fundraising and volunteering and gave more than £1.5million of support to local communities.

Sainsbury's Balham Store Manager Wayne Vidler said: "Our last charity partnership with Trinity Hospice proved a great success and we're looking forward to continuing to support them. Our customers now have a fantastic opportunity to help us support another local charity which is close to many people's hearts, so we hope they can help us in our search for your Local Charity Partner for 2012/2013'.

Based on information supplied by Paula Creates.