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Co-op Community Event Marks the Summer of Love

Twice a year the Co-op Florists in Great Barr organise a Community Day with stalls running along the street outside the Florists, Funeral, Travel and Food stores, and activities in the Co-op Hall upstairs. The summer event co-incides with International Co-operatives Day on the first Saturday in July and this

Our Board of Directors

June and July update from our President Elaine Dean

It has been a busy month yet again and I've been out and about meeting members and colleagues and representing the Society at events. On June 21st we had the reconvened Press Board which passed off totally uneventfully and I was presented with a necklace, flowers and taken

Southern

120 students participate in Co-operative Masterclass at De-Montfort University

This week, colleagues and our MCC ambassadors from across the business educated young people taking part in the National Citizenship Service about the values and principles of a co-operative, the co-operative business model as a different way of doing business, and the role co-operatives play within the community and the

Central England Co-operative puts community at the heart of its Co-op Fortnight celebrations

Central England Co-op has showcased its community ethos during the two weeks of Co-op Fortnight with Brazilian drumming at a Yorkshire food store, volunteering at a Leicester food bank and litter picking in Norfolk among the many highlights. The Society backed the two-week annual event by giving dozens of its

Thirty-six community groups and charities handed share of £44,000 funding boost from our Community Dividend Fund

Thirty-six projects are celebrating after sharing £44,000 in the latest payout from Central England Co-operative’s 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

Co-op Fortnight ends after two weeks of mass co-operation

Co-op Fortnight 2019 has come to a close and it was full of highlights with colleagues, members and our local communities truly coming together in the spirit of co-operation. Dozens of our own member groups, community groups, local projects and good causes took the opportunity to come into our food

Southern

Ibstock store welcomes Hospice Hope for Co-op Fortnight

As part of our Co-op Fortnight celebrations our food stores have opened their doors to various local community groups and good causes, giving them the opportunity to have space in store to promote themselves and raise money. At our Ibstock food store, Hospice Hope took up the opportunity to spend

Northern

Member Groups playing their part

As we come to the close of Co-operative Fortnight, it has been an exciting two weeks with our Member Groups playing their part to celebrate the benefits of being a member of Central England Co-operative. Our groups, from Tai Chi in Ilkeston, the Afternoon Group and Painting Group in Chesterfield,

Northern

Co-op Poem launched for Co-operatives Fortnight

Co-operatives East Midlands launched its Co-operative Poem to celebrate Co-operative Fortnight.  Members were asked to send in lines of poetry about the past, present and future of co-operatives.  This was to produce a short video to be used to promote co-operatives so that people could gain a greater understanding of

Northern

Yorkshire to Llandudno

Members from our New Mill and Shepley areas took advantage of an educational visit to Llandudno. Tom Robson, Chair of the Yorkshire MCCs, along with other Council members, Claire and Will accompanied the members on a beautiful day. Educational visits in the area are run three times a year and

Northern

Card making by our Craft Group

The Craft Group is a member group who normally meet at St. Peter's Church in Derby but during Co-operatives Fortnight both Mary and Dorothy shared their skills with customers at the Littleover Co-op. They showcased their work and achievements that members had produced over the years. What a

Our Board of Directors

Directors hearing about The Big Sales Difference

The President, Elaine Dean along with Directors Paul Singh and Tanya Noon, attended the The Big Sales Difference event at Derby's Pride Park Stadium. It was a pleasure to be invited to hear about how the business is progressing and to network with colleagues.

Northern

A loud performance by Valley Beats

What a fantastic welcome to customers at the Co-operative Store in Dodworth. Members of Valley Beats arrived to give a loud performance and showcase their enthusiasm for Samba drumming.  The Membership & Community Council has given support for the group. Katie Mallard has been inspirational at growing the group and

Northern

Fancy making a bird box?

Membership & Community Council member, Shirley Bly, trying her hand at making a bird box at the New Mill Co-op store.  Simon Hirst from River Holme Connections spoke to customers and members about their work and the importance of protecting the environment.  Bird box making and wildflower activities were on

Northern

Pledges about making a difference

MCC member Alison popped down to the Littleover store to support Jenny and Maureen from Spiral Arts to celebrate Co-operatives Fortnight. It was a great opportunity to showcase the community groups we work with. The Membership & Community Council has supported Spiral Arts over the years including work in schools

Northern

New artists in Willington

Members and shoppers assisted in a community painting project over a four day period at our Willington food store.  The Willington Arts Committee has designed four sections to be completed each day which will make a portrait of Willington.  The Membership & Community Council has supported Willington Arts for a

Western

Co-operative United FC

Week 2 of Co-operatives fortnight kicked off this week with a Co-operatives Fortnight Football Tournament. MCC Ambassador Laurence gives his account of the night. Having not played football since 2003, agreeing to take part in this event filled me with a mixture of fear and excitement. I quickly established that

Northern

Long-running Tai-Chi class continues to thrive in Ilkeston

Central England Co-operative members in Ilkeston have been making firm friends and keeping active thanks to a Tai-Chi group that continues to go from strength to strength over a decade since it was formed. The weekly sessions, held at the Flamsteed Centre, in Albert Street, remain one of the Society’

Western

Co-op Fortnight 1 Week In

This week we have been celebrating the first week of Co-ops Fortnight with activity and promotion of the period in which we celebrate all things Co-op for two weeks. I started the week with visiting some of our stores and talking to our colleagues about how important it is to

Coop Fortnight first week full of great ‘coopy’ activities

It has been a fantastic first week of Co-op Fortnight at Central England Co-operative with some great opportunities to be ‘coopy’ and work with our communities. The Society’s big act of co-operation this year has been to open the doors of our food stores to local member groups, community

Southern

Colleagues mark Co-op Fortnight by volunteering in Leicester emergency food shop

A city centre shop which provides emergency food to people in need is being supported by volunteers from Central England Co-operative to mark Co-op Fortnight. Colleagues and members are giving up their time to support the Action Homeless Food Stop in Leicester, as an act of ‘co-operation’ during the two-week

Our Board of Directors

May and June update from our President Elaine Dean

It has been quite a busy month again and here are some of the highlights of my work. 26th May - I attended the lovely wedding of Operations Manager Matt Garton and Paula Broadhurst at Rothley Court, in Leicestershire. It was a beautiful day. 28th May - Southern Membership and

Our Board of Directors

Derby Area Members’ Educational Visit to Crosby Beach and Southport

Central England Co-op President Elaine Dean reflected on the Derby Area Members' Educational Visit to Crosby Beach and Southport We drove in pouring rain to Merseyside and our first stop was Crosby Beach to view the amazing ‘Another Place’ by Antony Gormley. These are 100 cast iron life sized

Northern

Scrap that Plastic in Shelley

Another great event delivering Scrapthatplastic workshop with Year 3 at Shelley First School.  Inspiring a generation of environmental activists.  Thanks to fairandfunky who have delivered this workshop on behalf of the Yorkshire Cluster Group.

Northern

A Concert of Wellbeing

What a pleasure to have supported the Chesterfield Co-operative Choral Society's Wellbeing concert on 15th June at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield.  With 3 other community groups supporting from a school choir, a female choir and Wirksworth Community Orchestra it was a fantastic extravaganza. They also provided members