Western 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
Western 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
Western 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
Western 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
Western 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
Western 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
Western 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
Western '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
Western 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
Western Bike Events prove popular for our communities Recently the Western MCC held two bike events in Birmingham and Stafford during the Autumn half term break. The events in Wildwood, Stafford and Northfield, Birmingham proved a popular choice and many members of our community came along and had their bikes checked with some minor repairs take place. In
Community Co-op Gardening Club Learns About Urban Willow Richard Bickle, MCC Member in Birmingham tells his account of the latest Co-op Gardening Club visit below. On Wednesday evening, member of the Co-op Gardening Club in Birmingham spent an enjoyable evening with Marcus Belben, community activist and local Woodcraft Folk leader, learning about the growing and uses for willow
Community Birmingham Co-operatives present 'Left Feet Forward' Exhibition On 28 October "Left Feet Forward; Birmingham Co-operative Art Exhibition launches at Artefact. The Exhibition celebrates both the history of the Co-operative movement and examines the current Co-op scene in Birmingham. Artefact is a workers Coop art gallery and performance space in Stirchley, a vibrant area of South Birmingham
Community Great Barr Musical Theatre Co-operative perform Cinderella On Friday 4 & Saturday 5 November our very own musical theatre member group perform their pantomime production of Cinderella! The group are made up of dedicated musical theatre members from the community who come together to perform, socialise and have fun. you can find out more on the group
Community Free Bike Maintenance Events During half term two bike maintenance events are taking place in Stafford and Birmingham. The events are free for members and customers to get their bike checked and basic repairs completed free of charge. On Thursday 27 October the team from local bike repair and community bike shop 'Back
Community 'Men's Voices' returns for 2022 Our annual Men's Voices returns on Wednesday 16 November and is once again taking place at Burton Albion Football Club. This years theme is around wellbeing and mindfulness! We have two great key note speakers coming along; Lord Roy Kennedy, member of the House of Lords and Charlie
Western The Woodland Games On 3 September our Central England Co-op MCC member Shaz attend the Woodland Games in South Birmingham. Hear his account of the day below Central England Co-op Western MCC supported the Woodland Games in south Birmingham. The Woodland Games an art adventure that helped the participants learn about ecology and
Community Colleagues celebrate Birmingham Pride Colleagues from Central England Co-op Retail, Funeral and Support Centre businesses came together on Saturday to celebrate Pride. This Year's Pride was celebrating 25 years in Birmingham! Over 30 colleagues took part in either the parade or the community stand in Pride's Community Village. The parade
A Summer of Health for Young People in the West Midlands During the Summer holidays over 1,500 young people were introduced to healthy choices activity from members of the Western MCC and myself at local Holidays and Food clubs. We worked with Progressive Sports in Staffordshire, Sporting Spirit in Birmingham, and Central Co-op Learning Trust in Burton by providing activity
Birmingham Co-operative History Group Visits Chipping Norton Shaz Rahman, MCC member joined the Birmingham Co-op History Member Group on a visit to Chipping Norton. His account of the day is below. On Saturday the 13th of August the Birmingham Co-operative History Group went on a Co-operative Tour of Chipping Norton. Well known Co-operator and Chipping Norton resident
Summer of Sport comes to Birmingham The Western MCC teamed up with Sporting Spirit and Sport for Life International to host a Summer of Sport event in Birmingham for colleagues, members and the community inspired by Birmingham's hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. During the day there were 8 sports on offer to try
Community Great Barr celebrates new look store and Birmingham's Summer of Sport Last week our Store at Great Barr in Birmingham celebrated their new look store in time for Birmingham's Summer of Sport. The store is located just up the road from Alexander Stadium, the venue for this year's Commonwealth Games. The official opening of of the store
Community Co-op Film Festival takes place during Co-ops Fortnight During Co-ops Fortnight this year the Co-op Film Club in Birmingham held their second Film Festival. Kate Palser of the Film Co-op writes about what took place during the two weeks. Reflection on an undertaking like Just Film Festival is an important part of the whole process. Although the features
Community Co-op Songwriting sessions come to Stirchley Shaz Rahman, Western MCC member writes how he attends and is part of a song writing co-op that meets at the Artefact Cafe in Stirchley. These sessions have been enabled by the funding of the Western MCC. On Friday July the 1st the Co-op Songwriting Group met for the third
Community Fairtrade sessions with local Beavers' Group Recently MCC member Amanda and myself went along to see a local Beaver Group in Kings Heath to talk to them about all things Fairtrade. During the Sessions Amanda and myself spoke about the importance of Fairtrade and how buying these products help farmers and workers of developing countries lead
Western Great Barr Community Day On Thursday 28 July come Join us at Walsall Road Great Barr for some fun community activity. There we be a tombola, raffle, prizes, food tastings, refreshments and lots more with all money raised going to our Colleague elected charity Dementia UK. Colleagues from our Food, Funeral, floral and membership