TRAFFORD Park charity Challenge 4 Change has received more than £2,500 after being chosen by store chain That’s Entertainment to benefit from the new 5p charge for plastic bags.

Since October, shoppers have been charged 5p for every plastic bag they buy from retailers in England with 250 or more full-time employees.

Retailers can choose what to do with the money, but are expected to give it to charity.

That’s Entertainment is dividing its proceeds between Trafford Park-based Challenge 4 Change and the Teenage Cancer Trust and has given £2,593.65 to each charity, covering the first six months since the measure was introduced.

Challenge 4 Change runs a 19,000 sq ft indoor activity centre which includes an arena with aerial and ground-level assault courses, a climbing wall and a mock jail.

The facility is used by schools, colleges, housing associations, businesses, sports clubs, charities and community organisations.

The charity aims to help people build their confidence, improve their problem-solving and communication skills and encourage team-working.

It will use the plastic bag windfall to subsidise sessions for disadvantaged people from across Greater Manchester.

Chief executive Dave Djordjevic said: “Small charities rely on support from a number of sources and we are extremely grateful to That’s Entertainment for this wonderful gesture. The money will make a real difference to Challenge 4 Change and those who benefit from our facility.”

That’s Entertainment operates 26 stores selling new and used CDs, DVDs and computer games. It is part of the Entertainment Magpie group, which is based in Hazel Grove, Stockport, and is best-known for its Recommerce website musicMagpie.co.uk.

The group has also donated a laptop computer to Challenge 4 Change, along with a consignment of computer memory sticks which will be given to visitors to the facility containing photos of their trips.

Steve Oliver, chief executive of Entertainment Magpie, said: “We are thrilled to have raised such a significant amount in a short period of time and hope the money will make a real difference to both charities.

“Challenge 4 Change helps people of all ages to understand the importance of teamwork and comradeship – attributes which are very much at the heart of everything we do.

“We’re also delighted to support Dave and his team with one of our high-quality refurbished laptops for use in presentations and conferences, and with a large quantity of high-capacity memory sticks which they can offer to visitors to their unique facility.”