Northern

From retirement to the shopfloor

Two stories for you to read from Philip Fee (Chair of the Membership & Community Council and Ollie Pardo, Vice-Chair), of their time providing support in stores near to where they live, to support the business during these challenging times. Retired retailer returns to the shopfloor to support Central England

Northern

Shop floor job swap

Membership & Community Council member, Joanna West, sharing her story of working in store and her time supporting the Community Hub in Littleover, in conjunction with the Derby City Council and Derby Country Community Trust. -0-0- A councillor has swapped stacking food onto shelves at one of our stores, to

Northern

The new frontline in a world of Covid-19

The Co-operative News article below, also includes a summary of the work of the MCRO’s redeployment into retail and supporting the community hubs. Co-operative News Article - Retail workers are the interface between the public and essentials they need. They are also most likely to be one of the

Southern

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

Western

Community Hubs Reach Milestone...

As I write this blog I am reflecting on the outstanding work Central England Co-op, Lichfield District Council(LDC), Stafford Borough Council(SBC) and Burton Albion Community Trust(BACT) have been doing to provide essential shopping needs to our community who are vulnerable or self-isolating in the Western Region. The

Southern

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

Southern

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

Southern

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,

Southern

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

Western

What's been going on this week! Community Hubs, Members Keeping in Touch and more...

As I write this blog on Sunday 19 April, I think back to what has happened this week, how we are supporting our community, keeping in touch with members and doing good at a time when we need it most. Firstly I want to give you an update on the

Southern

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&

Western

Central England Co-operative Delivers in Staffordshire

I am writing this post on a nice sunny Monday morning during what would have been a fun filled Bank Holiday weekend with the family, but as we all know times currently are not what we expected. But through adversity comes determination to succeed, and colleagues and I certainly achieved

Community spirit shines through during uncertain times

During these uncertain times it has been heartening to see instances of how local people and our colleagues have come together to support their communities. It has lifted the spirits to see our co-operative values of social responsibility and caring for others being lived and breathed by both colleagues and

Southern

Member groups update in Southern region

With the ongoing lockdown in place during the Coronavirus pandemic our Member activities and groups are currently postponed. We know how important these groups are to our Members and the social bonds and friendships that have been created. Here is an update from Southern MCC Chair Hilary Allen (pictured) on

Western

CEC launches new community initiative and members use online to connect

I am writing this on Sunday 5 April at the end of my second week back supporting our front line colleagues in store. This week has seen Central England Co-operative (CEC) team up with two local councils to help the vulnerable in our community, and our Member Line Dance Group

Southern

Leicester store volunteer says it has been a ‘privilege’ to support her local community

A Leicester community hero has showcased the best in co-operative values by volunteering to support her local Central England Co-op store to provide food and essentials to her community. Hilary Allen is a part of the Society’s Southern Membership and Community Council (MCC) and has been lending a hand

Northern

Derby volunteer reveals what it is like to work in store during this uncertain time

A Derby co-operator has given an insight into what it like working in a Central England Co-op store after deciding to volunteer to ensure communities continue to have access to food and essentials. Joanna West is a part of the Society’s Northern Membership and Community Council and has been

Northern

Virtual meetings to stay in touch

The Northern Membership & Community Council held its first virtual meeting via zoom.  It went really well and everyone enjoyed seeing each other.  We were able to conduct the meeting which was great.  Some of the Membership & Community Council members are also working in stores, which is fantastic and

Northern

From Membership to Store

I just wanted to share my re-deployment story with you. Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, I have started to assist at a food store near to where I live, which is Horsley Woodhouse in Derbyshire. My first day was before the new restrictions came in about social distancing and

Northern

Time for remembering. Carol writes about the Shepley Writing Group

Carol Warham, MCC member and the Shepley Creative Writing group writes: Central England Co-operative has supported Shepley Creative Writing group for about four or five years and we are very grateful to them. The group had actually started a few years before that. We held meetings in homes and even

Eastern

Eastern Membership team help food stores to support communities

While normal life is on hold as we face these testing and uncertain times, our Eastern Membership team has been busy lending a hand to our food stores to ensure their communities are served. Membership and Community Relations Officer Kym Hunt has gone back to the shopfloor at our Carlton

Western

Back to the Front Line

Well, hasn't a lot changed since my last blog post from Fairtrade Fortnight... I write this blog in the Colleague Rest Room at one of our convenience stores where I am currently supporting our wonderful colleagues, who are delivering such wonderful service to our communities in this strange

An update for our Members

Our Board of Directors has taken the decision to postpone the Society’s Annual Members’ Meetings which were scheduled to take place at the end of April. We hope that the Members’ Meetings can be deferred until October.  In the meantime, we are looking into the possibility of holding an

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

MCC and Nemco visit to Gainsborough and Hemswell

by President Elaine Dean MCC member Joanna West and I accompanied the Nemco area members' Heritage Visit to Gainsborough and Hemswell . Gainsborough has a magnificent Old Hall. It had a number of different building styles added on to it and dates from 1460. It looks predominantly Tudor in style.