MERKUR Casino Backs Gillingham Charity with £1,231 Donation to Boost Wellbeing

_{Donation forms part of MERKUR'S ongoing community engagement. (Image: Merkur Group UK)}

MERKUR Casino has donated £1,231 to the Sunlight Development Trust to help enhance the mental and physical wellbeing of residents in the Medway community.

The Gillingham-based charity operates from the Sunlight Centre, offering a wide range of services including a GP practice, family centre, pharmacy, recording studio, community radio station, and café. The centre aims to promote wellbeing, reduce loneliness, and build independence, particularly among people facing health or employment challenges.

Improving Spaces for Community Support

MERKUR’s latest donation will replace 22 essential wipe-clean chairs used in the trust’s meeting rooms, spaces that regularly host activities for people over 50 and those unemployed due to learning or mental health difficulties.

Mirelle Frost of Sunlight Development Trust said the support would make a tangible difference to their members.

“We are extremely thankful to be receiving this generous donation from MERKUR, allowing us to replace and upgrade our meeting room chairs, improving our facilities for our members,” Frost said. “Many of the people who use our facilities face significant challenges in their lives, and having comfortable, accessible and hygienic spaces where they feel welcomed really makes a difference.” 

Part of MERKUR’s Wider Community Commitment

The contribution is part of MERKUR’s national Community Programme, which funds local initiatives promoting social inclusion and wellbeing. The programme combines company funding with voluntary customer donations collected from MERKUR venues across the UK including land based casinos.

Since its launch, the initiative has donated £291,541.54 to more than 130 community organisations nationwide.

Mark Schertle, chief operating officer at MERKUR Casino UK, said the company is committed to supporting projects that align with its values of social responsibility.

“We are delighted to be supporting Sunlight Development Trust with this funding, enabling them to further improve their facilities to benefit their members,” Schertle said. 

“Sunlight Development Trust’s values of giving the people of Gillingham a safe and informed quality of life and a feeling of empowerment to take responsibility for their own health are very important and align perfectly with our values of social responsibility and building communities.” 

Why It Matters

With mental health and social isolation remaining major challenges in many UK towns, particularly post-pandemic, donations like MERKUR’s help sustain spaces that encourage connection and inclusion. The Sunlight Centre’s blend of healthcare, creative outlets, and community engagement offers a vital support network in Gillingham, an area where health inequalities are above the national average, according to Medway Council’s 2023 Public Health Report.