BOW Swimming Pool and Bow Medical Practice have been announced as the two organisations to benefit from the Bow Southern Co-operative store's 2013 Community Support Card scheme.

The scheme recipients were chosen by a panel of local people who are members of the Southern Co-operative (TSC), together with the store's retail business manager Tracy Watson.

She said: 'It's very important for us to involve local people in deciding who should receive our support through this scheme as we feel they know best what is needed in the community.

'The decision to award this to Bow Swimming Pool and Bow Medical Practice was unanimous as both applications will do so much to directly benefit the health and well-being of the local community.'

The schemes relies on the support of customers at the stores, but costs them nothing as all money is donated by TSC. Tracy said: 'To show their support, customers simply need to request a CSC card when they are next in store, and have this swiped each time they shop here. The more people use the card, the faster TSC adds money to the fund, up to the maximum of £10,000.'

Bow Medical Practice intends to use the funds to buy medical equipment for use both in the surgery and within patients' homes. The funds donated to Bow Swimming Pool will be used to purchase a new pump and undertake essential maintenance to ensure the pool can remain open for schoolchildren and the community.

Earlier this year Bow Primary School and Bow Village Hall each received £4,250 from the TSC scheme.