Cal’s big chop - Supporting Samaritans and Little Princess Trust

Membership Matters -

On 16th September, our very own Callum Hincks, IT Implementation Manager, will be chopping off his hair – not just for a new look, but to make a real difference.

Callum’s hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, who create wigs for children who have lost their hair while undergoing cancer treatment. At the same time, he’s aiming to raise £500 for Samaritans, Central Co-op’s official charity partner.

You can support Cal’s Big Chop and donate here:
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/calsbigchop

Why Samaritans?

Many people find it hard to speak openly or ask for help, but talking can be life-saving - whether it’s with a colleague, family member, friend or a helpline like Samaritans.

  • Every 10 seconds, a Samaritans volunteer answers a call for help
  • Samaritans are available 24/7, 365 days a year, offering free, confidential, non-judgemental support to anyone struggling to cope
  • With 23,000 volunteers across 200 branches, they respond through calls, emails, chats, letters and in-person visits
  • Last year alone, Samaritans volunteers spent almost one million hours supporting people in need

It’s only through donations that this work is possible. For example:

  • £10 could help Samaritans answer a call for help
  • £133 could recruit and train a new volunteer
  • £680 could keep the helpline open for an hour
  • £1,077 could run Samaritans’ online chat service for a whole day

Our Members helped us choose Samaritans as our new official charity partner, with nearly 17,000 Members taking part in the vote. The partnership reflects what matters most to our communities: care, connection and support for people of all walks of life when they need it most.

At Central Co-op, whether it’s popping into a local shop for essentials, arranging a funeral that feels right, or coming together for community events, we’re here for our Members. And just like us, Samaritans put community and human connection at the heart of everything they do.

Join us in supporting Cal

We want to give Callum a huge shoutout for taking on this brave and generous challenge. By donating to Cal’s Big Chop, you’ll be supporting two amazing causes:

✨ Helping the Little Princess Trust create wigs for children who have lost their hair during cancer treatment.
✨ Ensuring Samaritans can continue to be there, day and night, for anyone struggling to cope.

Together, small acts can make a big difference.

👉 Donate and support Cal here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/calsbigchop