James Knight

The Western Membership and Community Relations Officer is James Knight. He oversees the West Midlands and Staffordshire.

Western

Men's Voices - A day for men to talk

Central Co-op's Men's Voices 2023 took place at Burton Albion Football Club. The day was attended by male colleagues, members, and the community to help spread the positive message of talking and supporting each other. Sometimes men find it hard to open up, this event, with the workshops and activity

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Panto season kicks off with 'Jack and the Beanstalk'

Our Central Co-op member Group 'Great Barr Musical Theatre Co-operative' (GBMTC) performed their production of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Highbury Theatre in Sutton Coldfield Following the raving success, and award winning production of Cinderella last year, this years performance did not disappoint. A slapstick comedy by a super

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Halloween Carving Sessions prove popular with young people

This halloween the Member and Community Council visited stores in Birmingham, Stafford, Dudley, Atherstone and Lichfield to offer young people the chance to carve a pumpkin for free. During our time at the events we spoke to parents about Central Co-op Membership and the work we do in the community.

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New Member Music Group coming to Birmingham

"A new Songwriting Group will start at Anjuna Lounge in Stirchley on Thursday the 9th of November.  Every second Thursday of the month from 7-9pm we will explore a different aspect of Songwriting from chords, to melodies, to lyric writing. We will learn about each aspect of Songwriting and then

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Central Co-op supports Lichfield at their Community Games

Our summer of supporting young people through sport and healthy eating came to a close this weekend in Lichfield with us attending the Lichfield Community Games. as an ever present supporter of the Lichfield Community Games, we know how important it is to link sport and healthy eating to a

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Central Co-op supports the Woodland Games

Shaz Rhaman, Western Member and Community Council member writes about the Woodland Games. September the 9th 2023 saw the second iteration of the Woodland Games; a nature based, family sports day at the Hazelwell Park in Stirchley South Birmingham. The Woodland Games began with a loud and colourful procession from

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Free Education Activity from Central Co-op Membership

Central Co-op Membership and Community Councils offer free Education activity for School, Education Settings and Community Groups as part of its offering to the community. The workshops give young people a fun and friendly way to understand important topics on Food, Healthy Eating, Fairtrade, Ethics, Finance, Democracy, and Co-op Business.

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A weekend of celebration brings Co-op Fortnight to a close

During the last weekend of Co-op Fortnight we held events within the community that celebrated all things Central Co-op in the Community. On Saturday 1 July we attended CoCOMAD, a music and Dance festival in Cotteridge, Birmingham and The Burton Community Games in East Staffordshire. CoCOMAD, once again proved popular

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A new Chapter in the Co-operative Story of Stirchley

Below is a blog post written by Central Co-op Vice-President, Richard Bickle On the eve of Co-operatives Fortnight, I was delighted to represent Central Co-op at the official start on site of an exciting new £10M co-operative development in Stirchley. The new building will provide trading space for two local

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Local Beaver Group Learn about Fairtrade and Ethics

Recently the Beavers from 16th Burton Scout Group visited our Stapenhill Store to learn all things Fairtrade and Ethics. During the session the Beavers had chance to complete our Ethical Challenge to see what Fairtrade products we sell, where they come from and what other ethical products we sell. We

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Healthy Choices arrives at School in Stafford

This week saw us visit Veritas Primary Academy in Stafford to deliver Healthy Choices Workshops and our 'Savvy Shopping' Lunchbox Challenge to the whole school over 3 days. During our time at school we held a fruit tasting session with children from the nursery. The children tried a variety of

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Central Co-op beaming with Pride in Birmingham

As today marks the start of PRIDE month, on Saturday Colleagues and members came together in Birmingham to celebrate PRIDE. The event was attended by colleagues from all areas of our business including elected members of the Membership and Community Council. We all met at Centenary Square in Birmingham before

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Our Musical Theatre Member Group nominated for Best Panto by NODA

In November 2022 our Musical Theatre Member Group (Great Barr musical Theatre Co-operative) performed an amateur production of Cinderella in Sutton Coldfield. The 3 productions were performed over 2 days to a very well entertained audience, including myself and my family. And yes we really enjoyed the production. Recently GBMTC

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Area Managers Volunteer at Community Garden

Last week Kayleigh, Matt, Ben, and Craig from our Large Store Area Manager group joined me at Allens Cross Community Garden in Northfield to give back to our local community through Central Co-op Volunteering Scheme. During the morning we tidied and repainted the inside of the Bee Education Hut. The

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BillyChip launches at Central Co-op Stores

A launch event of BillyChip took place at our Lichfield Store last week to kick off all of our stores being part of this brilliant project. The BillyChip® Foundation registered charity 1188779 was set up in 2018 to continue the legacy of Billy Abernethy-Hope a twenty year old ambulance driver

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New Look Funeral and Retail Launched

recently the Western MCC supported the relaunch of our Regent Road Retail Store and Wednesfield Funeral Home with our new Central Co-op branding. First was our Regent Road Store that was launched on Good Friday. The new look branding and selection of Member and customer offers available was amazing. Member

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Membership support our Funeral at local Career Day

Recently I supported Funeral colleagues from our Tamworth Funeral Home visited their local High School in Wilnecote, Tamworth. The school held a career day for students to learn about careers in the local area. Debbie, Lucy and Lindsey from Tamworth Funeral Home attended and discussed funeral careers with students, and

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Healthy Choices at Half Term

During Easter half term the Western MCC delivered Healthy Choices Workshops to HAF (Holiday and Food) sessions in the West Midlands. Working with Progressive Sports in Staffordshire and Sporting Spirit in Birmingham. During the sessions we spoke to the young people about the importance of eating healthy and how fruit

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An Apeeling Fairtrade Fortnight was had in the West Midlands

This Fairtrade Fortnight lots of fun activity was had promoting all things Fairtrade in the region from coffee mornings to school assemblies. We started the week with a Fairtrade assembly to over 250 primary school children who loved hearing about what Fairtrade means and how there is a fairtrade producer

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Members come Together and Dance for Fairtrade Fortnight

Central Co-op members got together this week to celebrate Fairtrade and Co-operation at a special Tea-Dance in Burton upon Trent. Over 80 members from our Birmingham and Eastwood member groups joined together for the event that was compered and led by Pierre, our Birmingham Modern Sequence Dance tutor. The dancers

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Co-op Gardening Group Celebrate Christmas and plan for 2023

Cath Palgrave, MCC Member who attends the Gardening Group talks about the final meeting of 2022 below. The last Co op gardening club of the 2022 saw us making terrariums (miniature gardens which can mostly look after themselves through condensation). One of our members talked us through the process, providing

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Central Co-op helps Lichfield based Charity by selling Kindness Teddy Bears

Central Co-op and the Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation have joined forces to spread a little kindness this Christmas. On Friday we held a Teddy Bear Picnic evening with the Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation at our Insomnia Community Café in our Central Co-op Lichfield Store. Members of the public were invited

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Western MCC supports 'Safe Gigs for Women'

The Western MCC supported @safe Gigs for Women' this year with some funding. Cath Palgrave who supports the organisation, has written how that funding has been put to use below. Safe Gigs for Women is a voluntary group of gig goers who aim to create a safer environment for women

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'Men's Voices' Brings together men to celebrate and talk at an event for 'International Men's Day'

On Wednesday 16 November, Central Coop held its annual Men's Voices event. The event is held on, or around International Men's Day (19 November) to celebrate men, and talk about issues that affect men. This year's theme was around wellbeing and mindfulness and the program and speakers complimented the theme

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Left Feet Forward Exhibition Launches

On Friday the 28th of October Artefact, a workers coop art gallery and performance space, supported by Central Co-op, launched their new exhibition “Left Feet Forward.” This new exhibition celebrates Co-op History and examines how local Birmingham Co-ops exist in 2022. The Birmingham Co-op History Group have kindly provided specially