The nationwide coffee chain, Costa Coffee, which has seven stores across Bedford and Kempston, has injected a £500 donation into the Bedford Swifts, a local amateur rugby club, based at the Bedford Athletics stadium on Barkers Lane.
Costa began their “Community grants” initiative in 2021, to, “give a little lift to crucial causes in the communities around its stores”.
Costa Coffee told the Bedford Independent that they are: “passionate about uplifting the local areas they serve”. Their community grants programme allows members of their team to nominate businesses they should donate to, and the most recent recipients of this pay docket are the Bedford Swifts.
Established in 1950, however holding historic 19th-century ties with the Bedford Blues, The Swifts have been a long-serving point of joy for the Bedford community with relative success in recent seasons.
None with more so than last season’s campaign in the counties three Midlands East Division (South), where they were narrowly pipped to top spot by Brackley, via points difference, but still managed to gain promotion.
Despite being unable to find form in the 2023/24 season with just three wins since their first match in September of last year, the Swifts are still backed by a loyal and undying local fan base.
With the help of this donation, Costa is optimistic that the grant will enable the Swifts to “bolster the coaching they offer to players at the club- contributing directly to the enhancement of the rugby experience for all.”
Chairman of the Swifts, David Fray, had this to say on their new cash influx, “Costa Coffee’s £500 donation has ignited a spark of excitement within our sports club.
“With this support, we’re able to invest further in our coaching, in teamwork, and in the future of rugby.”
The Bedford Swifts are not the only beneficiaries of this programme, Costa has also donated over £100,000 to a multiplicity of towns and communities since 2021.
Costa Coffee’s community director, Jo Jennings said: “We are incredibly pleased to be able to donate to these amazing causes who are each having a huge and positive impact”.
Whether it can do enough to turn their season around or not, it’s hoped the donation will certainly give the Swifts a fighting chance.
