Listen to this article:Merkur UK has made its first donations in Leeds through its Community Programme, giving £1,000 each to two local organisations.
The Merkur donation in Leeds has gone to People Matters and Community Empowerment Leeds, both of which run programmes designed to support local people. People Matters works with people with learning disabilities and autism, while Community Empowerment Leeds provides music therapy and other creative activities for young people.
The donations come as Merkur continues to increase its presence in Leeds following its acquisition of Victoria Gate Casino during the summer, which added to its collection of casinos and bingo sites.
People Matters supports more than 400 people with learning disabilities and autism every year. The organisation will use its £1,000 donation to support Nourishing People, a social enterprise that gives trainees practical work experience.
Those taking part help to produce, package and sell snacks. They also learn how to find customers, manage orders and prepare deliveries, giving them experience of different parts of running a small business. The Merkur funding will help the organisation continue the project and provide more resources for those taking part.
Katie Hayes, head of operations at People Matters, said:
“Nourishing People is about much more than making and selling snacks. It gives our trainees responsibility and practical experience that can make a real difference to their futures.
“These new resources will help trainees work more independently, while the branded aprons that we have purchased will give the team a stronger sense of identity and pride at events. We are incredibly grateful to MERKUR for its support.”
The second £1,000 donation has gone to Community Empowerment Leeds. The organisation provides free music therapy, instrument learning and dance activities for young people aged between 11 and 25. Its Amplify Music Therapy programme gives young people somewhere to express themselves, build confidence and improve their wellbeing. The money from Merkur will help the organisation continue providing these activities free of charge.
Eresi Muchati, administrator at Community Empowerment Leeds CIC, said:
“Our work gives young people a safe and supportive place to express themselves, grow and make positive choices for the future. MERKUR’s support will help us continue creating those opportunities for young people across Leeds.”
While the two organisations do very different work, both are focused on helping people gain confidence, develop skills and become more independent.
The new donations come shortly after Merkur expanded its presence in Leeds through the acquisition of Victoria Gate Casino. The company already operates gaming venues around the UK, and Leeds has now become an increasingly important location for the business.
Mark Schertle, chief operations officer at Merkur, said:
“Leeds is an increasingly important city for MERKUR, and our commitment to the area goes beyond just the venues that we operate here. We want to support organisations that are creating real opportunities for local people.
“People Matters and Community Empowerment Leeds both help people grow in confidence, develop skills and look ahead with greater independence. We are proud to back their work.”
The two grants are the first to be awarded in Leeds through the Merkur Community Programme, so it seems likely that other local organisations will receive support in the future as the company’s presence in the city grows.
The Merkur Community Programme was launched in 2024 and is funded jointly by the company and donations from its customers. Since then, it has donated £423,095.90 to more than 200 charities and community groups around the UK. Recipients over the past year have included Milton Keynes Food Bank, Nova Sports Wheelchair Basketball Club, Rays of Sunshine, Springboard Opportunities in Belfast, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Little Lifts, Brain Tumour Research and Momentum.
The latest Merkur donations in Leeds are relatively small at £1,000 each. Still, for organisations such as People Matters and Community Empowerment Leeds, the money can be put towards specific programmes and resources that directly benefit the people using their services.
With Merkur having recently expanded its business in Leeds, the two donations also mark the beginning of its Community Programme in the city rather than a one-off contribution.
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