James Knight

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

Western

Central Co-op celebrate International Men's Day 2024 with their Annual 'Men's Voices' Event

On International Men's Day 2024 Central Co-op held their 5th annual Men's Voices Event. This year it took place at Central Co-op's Support Centre in Lichfield. 55 men braved the snowy weather to attend the event designed to help promote talking and discussion on

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A Musical Masterpiece... Great Barr Musical Theatre Co-operative performs 'The Addams Family'

I, along with members of Central Co-op Western Membership and Community Council went along to this year's production from our very own Member Group 'Great Barr Musical Theatre Co-operative'! What a show! What a performance from this talented group of performers! For the last two years

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Fairtrade Fornight Celebrates it's 30th year!

This year Fairtrade Fortnight moved to September to co-incide with the 30th anniversary of Fairtrade in the UK. Here at Central Co-op we passionatly support the movement and completed lots of varied activity during the two week period. Between 9 -22 September we decided to hold customer/member awareness events

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A Malawian Curry for the latest Slow Cooker Session in Burton

Our third slow cooker session in Burton took place in early September back at Trent and Dove's 181 Community Cafe in Winshill. This session was based around a mild curry dish incorporating True Origin's Malawian Kilombero Rice. We were delighted to be joined by Howard, a

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National Playday in Burton sees Thousands of Young People

On Wednesday 21 August a National Playday event was held at Shobnal Leisure Centre in Burton on Trent. The event designed to help give young people free, fun activity proved very popular with over 5,000 members of the community, mostly families coming along to the day. The free event

Woodland Games a Hit in Birmingham

On Saturday 17 August the third Woodland Eco Games took place in Stirchley, Birmingham at Hazelwell Park. The annual event in the brainchild of local art event expert and planners Hipkiss and Graney. The event designed to promote eco art alongside a range of fun wacky games most certainly bought

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Community Cooking Session Takes Place in Burton-on-Trent

Central Co-op Western Membership and Community Council teamed up with colleagues from Trent & Dove Housing to deliver a community cooking session for members of the community in Burton-on-Trent. This session was the first of six, which aims to promote healthy cooking skills through cost efficient meals prepared in a

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Community Cricket Day for August Bank Holiday Monday

This August Bank Holiday sees the Western MCC and Birmingham Unicorns Cricket Club join forces to create a fun community cricket day come to Aldridge, Walsall in the West Midlands. A fun day for anyone who has played, never played, wanted to play, or just have some fun. We will

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Central Co-op colleagues and members help bring colour to Lichfield Pride🌈

On Sunday 21 July colleagues and members from Central Co-op came together to help spread colour and joy to this year's Lichfield Pride event. Colleagues from our family of businesses joined elected members from the Western MCC at Lichfield to celebrate all things Pride. The day kicked off

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1949 Co-op shop opens at the Black Country Living museum

Early July saw the opening of a new (old) Co-op heritage shop open at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley. The 1949 replica No.11 branch of the Halesowen & Hasbury Industrial Co-operative Society now sits within the museum. The store was the Society's first self service

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Summer of fun at the Community Games

Although the weather this year has been less than perfect, the sun shone at the community games in Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield. The community games delivers fun activity for young people to allow the opportunity for different sports and activity to be tried, and even tried for the first time.

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Central Co-op Membership supports Cycling event in Edgbaston

Recently Laurence and Shaz attended an event in Birmingham supporting the promotion of cycling. Below is their account of the event Central Co-op was delighted to join Better Streets for Birmingham in an event in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Like Central Co-op Better Streets for Birmingham want to promote active travel, namely

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Streethay Primary supports the 'Rice Challenge'

During May and June we challenged the students of Streethay Primary School in Lichfield to take part in the '90GK Rice Challenge' The rice challenge, challenges young people and their families to buy 90KG of fairly traded Kilombero rice. Buying 90KG of Kilombero rice is all it takes

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Membership and Funeral support young people in Walsall

Recently colleague from our Funeral Home in Walsall and myself went along to Walsall College to engage with young people during their Career Event. During the day, we spoke with many young people and their tutors on the benefits of working for Central Co-op, our Apprenticeships, and also why working

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Central Co-op Member Group talk Composting!

The secret is in the soil! Cath Palgrave member of the Western MCC writes below about her visit to our Central Co-op Gardening Member Group in Birmingham. The Central Co-op Gardening Club has started 2024 by playing dirty! That is learning about all things dirt- well soil- related. January’s

Colleagues volunteering at the Birmingham International Tattoo

Last weekend saw colleagues from our funeral homes in Birmingham and myself volunteer at the Birmingham International Tattoo for a wonderful charity cause The Royal Star and Garter. "Royal Star & Garter provides award-winning care for veterans and their partners who live with disability or dementia, in state-of-the-art Homes.

Music being made by members

Members of our Central Co-op Music Member Group in Birmingham met recently. I went along to see the group and take a look (listen) at what they are doing. The group were talking and singing through a song they have written, and putting the music to the words. The song

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MCC Member Cath named as one of UK's 100 most inspirational women in cycling

In November 2023 Cath Palgrave, Membership and Community Council Member from Birmingham was named among the UK's 100 most inspirational women in cycling. We at Central Co-op are very proud of Cath and her recognition. Cath Works for the Bike Project in Birmingham, and has supported our bike

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Colleagues support St Giles Hospice at their annual Tree Collecting event

This January saw colleagues from across the business support local hospice St Giles with volunteering to collect Christmas Trees in the local area. The annual initiative sees households donate money to the hospice to have their Christmas Tree collected. This year saw St Giles raise a record amount of money,

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Jumping into January with Rykneld Primary School

Recently we joined Rykneld Primary School in Branston, Burton on Trent at their 'Jump into January' event. The event is spread over the first week back, and aims to give a healthy fun start back to school following the festive break. Lots of community groups and activity took

Central Co-op Members making Music in Birmingham

Shaz Rahman, who is a member of the Western MCC details below the first session of Central Co-op's Music Member Group in Birmingham. On Thursday the 9th of November the Central Co-op Music Member’s Group met for the first time. Those attending introduced themselves and talked about

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Christmas comes to Central Co-op

This last week saw colleagues, MCC members and the community come together and celebrate Christmas in the communities of Kings Norton and Stafford. Thursday saw us attend the Christmas Farmers Market at Kings Norton on the coldest night of the year so far! We interacted with the community on membership

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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

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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

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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.