THEY work all year to support those in need.

But now nine Hampshire charities have received a Christmas boost.

The Southern Co-operative’s Co-op Club donated £76,000 which was split between the charities following its closure in October 2011.

Naomi House and Jacksplace, Autism Hampshire, Macmillan Cancer Support (Hampshire), Canine Partners, Solent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, DEBRA, Different Strokes, Buckland Park Play Centre, Portsmouth, and Home Start Portsmouth each received a share at a reception at the Co-op’s Hampshire offices earlier this month.

The charities were suggested by the club’s management committee and members voted for the ones that meant the most to them.

Children’s hospices Naomi House and Jacksplace near Winchester received the biggest chunk at £15,000, which will help them continue supporting young people with cancer and their families. It will also help them organise additional Christmas outings to help families through what is the toughest time of year to be battling the disease.

Macmillan Cancer Support (Hampshire) got £10,000. The charity gives grants to people fighting cancer to help them cover everyday costs including household bills, transport to and from hospital and new clothes if their shape has changed because of the disease. Last year, 396 people in the county shared more than £100,000 in grants to support them during their treatment.

And Fareham-based charity Autism Hampshire was awarded £5,000, which will help it continue to run advice services, skills centres and day centres for more than 100 people in the county on the autistic spectrum.

Canine Partners, which provides support dogs for people living with disabilities, DEBRA, which funds research into skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa, and Solent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre also received £10,000 each and Different Strokes, which supports stroke survivors, was given £6,427.