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NISA

Making a Difference Locally charity appoints new trustees

Retailers will join the existing board of trustees to support activity and help shape the charity’s direction going forward.

Nisa’s charity Making a Difference Locally (MADL) has named two new trustees to support activity and help shape its direction going forward.

Scarborough-based Proudfoot Group Director Valerie Aston and Baz Aslam, Director of Fishpool News in Bury, join the existing board of trustees which comprises members of Nisa’s senior team alongside two independent trustees.

Aston has worked at the Proudfoot supermarket group for more than 28 years, which operates four supermarkets, based in Newby, Eastfield, Seamer and Manham Hill.

Proudfoot stores has itself supported local causes with more than £110,000 in donations raised through MADL to date and has won numerous Nisa awards for its extensive charitable activity within the local community.

Aslam runs Fishpool News, which has been operated by his family since 2008, and joined Nisa just last year in a bid to give his store a new lease of life.

Aston said: “What inspires me most about MADL is how it supports small and local charities that people in our communities and across the UK would be lost without. Knowing that something I will be part of is able to contribute, to help transform a community, is really heartening.”

Aslam added: “’I’d like to try to bring a different vision and drive to the charity as it has the ability to reach out to so many different areas of the community that need help, but have limited options in getting it.

“I have seen for myself in a short space of time what MADL is capable of achieving. I wish to help the charity and the hardworking people involved to make it better and help out as many people as we can.”

Making a Difference Locally will also be launching a new Retailer Forum this week to encourage Nisa retailers to share their thoughts and feedback on the charity and any further support they may need.

The first meeting will take place on Thursday 13 January and will be held monthly via video call.