Southern

A Healthy Start to January

This week we are busy supporting schools, after-school clubs and healthy hero's sessions in libraries with a healthy start to January.  Activities include delivering our popular healthy choices workshops followed by delicious and refreshing fruit kebabs.  Our healthy choices workshops cover a range of topics including the importance

We have shared out £44,000 between 25 amazing good causes

Twenty-five projects are celebrating after sharing £44,000 in the latest payout from our Community Dividend Fund. Grants of between £100 and £5,000 are handed out every three months to a wide range of applicants. The fund guarantees that at least one per cent of the Society’s trading

Western

Fairtrade comes to a Stafford School

To start the new year I attended Silkmore Primary Academy in Stafford to talk to their Year 6 class about all things Fairtrade. The Year 6 class with their teacher Mrs Powell have decided to complete a topic on Fairtrade, and they invited me in to talk about it. I

Western

New Year Holiday Club Supports Youngsters in Birmingham

This year kicked off with a bang in Birmingham as the Western MCC supported a Holiday Club in Birmingham. The four day event at the start of the year was set up by the Triathlon Trust to help inner city young people at a time when they needed it most.

114 good causes share £177k thanks to our community fund

We have helped change the lives of 114 groups and charities – by donating £177,885 from our Community Dividend Fund in 2019. A diverse range of projects picked from across 16 counties were handed a funding boost during the past 12 months, with the largest single amount given being £5,

Western

Central England Co-operative Member Groups Celebrate

This last week has seen our member groups celebrate Christmas with festive themed dances. Our Line, Folk and Sequence classes held dances that celebrated the festive season. The groups met for the final time to celebrate the year and also spread a little festive cheer. Maureen Bowyer from the Western

Eastern

Central England Co-op helps fund Christmas dinner for homeless people in Norwich

A Norfolk retailer has given a festive boost to a homeless support group in Norwich by donating food for a Christmas dinner held in the city. Colleagues from Central England Co-op also joined with volunteers from Food and Beverage Business (FABB) to help serve the Christmas dinner at Norwich Market

Leicester Co-op stores join forces to boost three good causes

Colleagues from across Leicester have spent the past 12 months putting on a wide range of community events to raise thousands of pounds for a trio of great good causes. Workers from stores in the area have undertaken everything from car boots, cake sales, fun days and even a charity

Southern

Thriving Leicestershire drama group is now open to Central England Co-op members

A successful and award-winning Leicestershire theatre group has received backing from Central England Co-op as it continues to thrive 57 years after it was originally founded. Whetstone Drama Group has teamed up with the retailer to become one of its member groups. It has also been awarded a share of

Northern

Willington food store emblazoned with colourful community artwork celebrating village life

A Central England Co-operative food store in Willington has been given a colourful new feature thanks to a unique piece of artwork created by the village community. The Willington Community Painting was commissioned by the retailer’s Northern Membership and Community Council (MCC) who worked with Willington Arts Festival to

Northern

Bah Humbug!

Another example of work by a member of the Shepley Creative Writing Group. Vicky quoted "At the age of 61 and a dispenser at my local pharmacy, I recently joined a creative writing course in the village which I am really enjoying, I wish I had done this earlier,

Southern

A Busy Christmas for Southern MCC

Over the last two weeks and continuing into this week, the Southern MCC have been very busy supporting food bank appeals, late night shopping events and community days in our stores.  They have been promoting the benefits of our membership, showcasing our amazing Christmas range with opportunities for members and

Western

The Premier League comes to Birmingham thanks to Central England Co-operative

On Friday the Premier League Trophy came to our Erdington store as part of a competition the Society and the store won with Cadbury UK. The prize was to host the trophy and allow our customers and members the chance to see the trophy and have their picture taken with

Christmas Sharing - take a closer look at the Co-op festive offerings we have this year

Every week from November 11 to December 16, we will be talking about our Christmas products by showcasing everything from taste tests to festive recipes with the help of colleagues, customers and members.

Northern

A Silly Christmas Love Story by a member of the Shepley Creative Writing Group

The Creative Writing Group meet in the Shepley Library and the members have successfully had many articles printed.  One member, Carol Warham had her first book published last year.  We wanted to share with you a poem by Tasker Dunham, which i am sure you will enjoy. A SILLY CHRISTMAS

Western

Elected Central England Co-operative Members meet in Birmingham

This last week saw members of the Membership and Community Council (MCC) meet in Birmingham for their last meeting of the year. They met at Safeside, Birmingham which is part of West Midlands Fire Service. The site educates young people on issues of safety. they show the young people aspects

Southern

Beautiful Handmade Wreaths for Christmas

Our Floristry class students, under the expertise of Sharon Kinder, have been busy making their own Christmas Wreaths for Christmas.  The two groups that run on a Thursday morning and afternoon in Fleckney, Leicestershire are so popular we are now looking to increase the classes to three in the New

Western

New Community Store in Tamworth Opens

Recently we opened our latest convenience store in Tamworth.  The store boasts new initiatives for our convenience estate including outdoor seating, indoor conversation bench, indoor area to charge devices and free drinking water. The store was opened by local school children from Ashcroft Infant and Nursery School who created a

Northern

Birkby Infant School learning about ways to save our planet

Thanks to fairandfunky for delivery another brilliant day.  With over 60 Year 2 children at Birkby Infants they created sea creatures from single use plastics and shared little ways to look after the planet. What do you do with your rubbish? How can you reduce your waste?#ReUse [https://twitter.

Northern

Christmas goodies at Shepley Craft Fair

Tom and Carol from the Yorkshire Member & Community Council were delighted to supported the Shepley Christmas Fair with Co-op tastings.  Everyone was so impressed with the range of products and the quality.  It was such a success that next year we will provide more samples, especially the gluten free

Northern

Wellbeing day at Belper with some Christmas cheer!

With the run up to Christmas a Wellbeing Day was held in Belper to give people some advice and support so that they can enjoy their Christmas.  The Membership & Community Council talked to customers about portion sizes and sugar and gave tastings of products that in moderation can make

Northern

Warm mulled wine and mince pies were a hit at Dodworth Festival of Light

Together with the Dodworth Co-op Store, the Yorkshire Member & Community Council again supported the Festival of Light event.  Due to the cold weather we were able to go inside the Central Club and warm people up with the mulled wine and mince pies.  The event attracted a number of

Northern

Calow lights up!

Calow Lights Up! The Membership & Community Council, together with the new Co-op store in Calow, were delighted to support the Calow Light Festival on 4th December.  Support was given towards the workshops for lantern making and some products for a hamper and tastings.  Kaye and Lyn who organised the

Eastern

Funeral colleagues support charity’s poignant Christmas efforts

Four colleagues from our funeral team in the eastern region have given up their time to spread some Christmas cheer and support a local charity dedicated to supporting bereaved British Forces children and young people. John Barry, Funeral Director at Kings Lynn Funeral Home, Laura Crowley, Senior Funeral Director in

Northern

Property team hit target with Bowls Club donation

Members of Derby Co-op Bowls Club can now take a load off their feet after a game, on furniture donated by Central England Co-op. The Society’s property team have recycled used furniture from Spondon Funeral Home which was removed following a recent refurbishment, for the benefit of the club