A Huge Thank You to the Southern Membership & Community Council
As International Year of Co-ops draws to a close, I wanted to take the time to reflect on the year and personally thank the Southern Membership & Community Council and our members across the region for their contribution to the celebrations.
In addition to their second year of a third year plan, MCC members pulled in additional activity to ensure that they marked the occasion and used the opportunity to promote and celebrate Co-ops during Co-op Fortnight. Events included volunteering in the community and at our crematorium in Bretby, producing a podcast on Co-ops, Past-Present-Future with special thanks to Coalville Public Radio, and artistic creations by our member groups, tutors and students. We also took the opportunity to launch a new "World Builders" game which is a fun and interactive game linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Other big events for the MCC this year were Time to Talk and Mental Health Week, with events held at our Insomnia Cafes in Blaby and Oakham and The Big Green Week where they supported a housing charity with growing fruit and vegetables in a brown space, an educational talk on Guerilla Gardening at a Green Space in Braunstone, and promoting greener funerals on market day in Loughborough. They also supported Holiday and Fun activities for families facing hardship in the school holidays and mock itnerviews and careers days in schools. 100s of educational workshops were delivered in both schools and to adult groups ranging from healthy choices to savvy shopping to mind your money, anti bullying and Co-op history. Free bike maintenance sessions, National play day activities and community fun days were supported, as were freshers week at selected stores, the launch of the new membership App, and assemblied and tasting sessions during Fairtrade Fortnight. During the festive period, they supported the Society's Toy Appeal, Christmas events at both stores and in the community and volunteered by helping retail colleagues with getting stock onto the shelves during the busy Christmas trading period.
This is just a snapshot of the wonderful work that our MCC's do to support our members and the Society which wouldn't happen without their energy, enthusiasm and passion for Central Co-op and the movement.
Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing what they have planned for 2026.
