Karen Bevan

Southern

Award Winning Leicester Drama Groups

Congratulations to both our Ratae Co-operative Players & Whetstone Drama Group who have won awards in this years NANDA (Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Drama Association) Play of the Year Competition for 2019/20. The "Peter and Joan Martin Award/Front of House Award" went to the Ratae Co-operative Players

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Members swap Keep Fit Classes for Walking

Members from our Keep Fit Group have not only been missing their weekly classes - they have been missing each other!  During the lock-down they had been staying in touch by creating a Whatsapp Group to share photographs of gardens, weekly quizzes and riddles and stories etc.  They were missing

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Co-op Members raise funds for Dementia UK

Creative members of Central England Co-op in Leicestershire have been busy doing their bit to help keep customers and colleagues safe while also raising vital funds for charity. They have designed homemade face coverings that have gone on sale in two local Central England Co-op food stores to raise money

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New Hygiene Bank - Market Harborough

In my previous blog I talked about the new Hygiene Bank that the Southern Membership & Community Council recently supported by donating vouchers and here is what Judy, one of the volunteers, had to say:- "I thought I'd let you see what an amazing gift the

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Lutterworth Watercolour Artists' Co-operative

The latest challenge set for members of our Lutterworth Watercolour Artists' Co-operative was famous people and I particularly like the fun that one of the members had with the Mona Lisa.  Below are some more images that really do capture the expertise and skills of the members.

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Southern MCC support Kettering Mind Crisis Cafe

Andrea, our MCC member went to Kettering Mind to hand over some vouchers which had been donated by the council to support the cafe during these difficult times. Here is what Andrea had to say:- "It’s a great place –  it has meeting rooms, a café, a craft

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Southern MCC Support Holiday Hunger Projects

Three Leicester projects running programmes this summer to support children impacted by holiday hunger have been boosted with funding from the Southern Membership & Community Council to help them give healthy lunches to youngsters over the school holidays. Christ the King Foodbank in Beaumont Leys, Mosaic Church in the West

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Co-op Band features on East Midlands Today News

Our acclaimed Leicestershire Co-operative Brass Band created a special performance to bring some joy during lock-down.  The Band put together a video recording of the Lou Read classic "Perfect Day" with each member performing their parts from home. It's a great way for the band to

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Store/MCC support re-opening of Markfield Library

Team Leader and Vice Chair of the Southern MCC, Elaine Rowley, jumped into action when she heard about the re-opening of the Markfield Library which is close to our Store.  Following an enquiry from the local Parish Council seeking advice on how we put our safety measures in place in

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Southern MCC welcomes new member

The Southern MCC are really pleased to welcome our latest new member, Nutan Modi. Nutan lives in Leicester and we asked her why she wanted to get involved and here is what she had to say:- "I remember as a teenager, attending commerce lessons at school and a

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Supporting Soldiers in Leicester

Soldiers who have recently been tasked with carrying out Covid19 tests for the local community at a dedicated site close to our Rowlatts Hill Store had a lovely surprise when they visited our store today for their lunch.  The Soldiers have been coming in everyday to buy lunch and Liz

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New Hygiene Bank in Market Harborough

When the Southern Membership & Community Council heard about a new Hygiene Bank being set up in Market Harborough, they were very pleased to donate some vouchers to support with the early set up. The Hygiene Bank is a national organisation, run by volunteers, that recognises that people can be

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Rounding Up Co-op Fortnight in 2020

It's no surprise to any of us that this year has certainly tested us but the Southern Membership & Council and I have been humbled by the co-operative spirit of our member groups and tutors and as  Co-op Fortnight draws to an end we wanted to reflect on

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Beautiful Images from the Lutterworth Photographic Society Co-operative

Members from our Lutterworth Photographic Society have been keeping themselves busy and testing their photographic skills by running two competitions on set themes. The images show the top three best images for Snow & Ice and Garden Flowers. Well done to our very talented members and thank you for all

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Co-op Fortnight with local journalist Natasha Jolob

As the Membership & Council have been unable to meet in person to promote and celebrate Co-op Fortnight, they took the opportunity to talk to local journalist, Natasha Jolob via a Zoom meeting. It was a time of great reflection on how they first became involved with co-operatives and why

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Floristry Lessons Continue Digitally

Our Floristry Tutor, Sharon McKinder, has been keeping her students creative by sharing step to step guides on how to make beautiful creations using seasonal flowers found in gardens. The students are really grateful to Sharon for continuing to help them learn new skills and the support and encouragement she

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Southern MCC support Corona Kitchen in Kettering

When we first heard about the Corona Kitchen in Kettering, the Southern MCC were very keen to donate some vouchers to this very worthy cause. We very much look forward to being able to visit when the Lock-down is lifted and look at other ways on how can we can

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Leicestershire & Ratby Co-op Bands Clap for Carers

Both of our Bands have been supporting the Clap for Carers evenings each Thursday at 8pm by playing their instruments outside of their respective homes. Here is what Liz from our Leicestershire Co-op Band had to say:- "I just thought  I’d share our support of the clapping

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Calligraphy Tutor keeps students motivated during Lockdown

Su Goodman, our Calligraphy Tutor, has been keeping students on task by sending out regular emails - this is what she recently had to say:- New Term Calligraphy 20.04.20 Week 5 "Today should be the start of a new Term. Traditionally in the next 2 days,

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Whetstone Drama Group Keep Members Entertained during Lockdown

The Whetstone Drama Group (who receive a grant from the Southern Membership & Community Council) have been keeping members entertained with a weekly quiz, which is organised and run by Steve Cutler and Ben Thomas. Yesterday evening I was invited to join them and really enjoyed taking part.  Steve and

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Hear How our Member Groups are Staying in Touch during Covid19 - Co-operation in Action!

Desne, our Keep Fit Tutor, and Jayne who attends her classes, have been busy keeping members who attend the classes occupied and this is what they had to say: Attached are some screenshots of our conversations in the Whatsapp group. There are 20 of us in it, some others haven&

60 Year 1 Children introduced to the importance of Healthy Choices

Year 1 children from Loatlands Primary School in Desborough learned about the importance of eating your five a day and what counts.  They also looked at portion sizes and were given a basic understanding of the traffic light colours on food labels and what they mean to support with making

A Busy Fairtrade Fortnight for Southern MCC

Just under 1,700 children across schools in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire enjoyed our Fairtrade Assembly which looks at the importance of buying Fairtrade, why the Co-op supports Fairtrade and how they, as shoppers can support Fairtrade too. We also worked with just under a 100 Brownies, Cubs and Beavers who

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Supporting Loneliness & Isolation, Health & Wellbeing

Our Southern MCC support a number of groups who meet in our local communities and this week I caught up with our Women of Wisdom Co-operative, who meet in Braunstone, our Thorncroft Friendship Co-operative who meet in the centre of Leicester,  and our Pop In Cafe, who meet in Thurnby

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Ratae Co-operative Pantomime - There Was an Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe

This year, our Ratae Co-operative Players put on a first class pantomime based on this very popular nursery rhyme.  Our Players are so talented and it is wonderful to see them working with young people and children too, which really makes for a great family show.  Young or old -