Northern

Health Day in Langley Mill proves popular

Working in partnership with local organisations, retail and funeral departments, to engage with the customers and offer a free wellbeing day.  From fruit tastings to supporting the Society's Charity.  16 people received a free MOT and were able to use the P3 vehicle. MCC members Ollie Pardo and

Northern

Acts of Co-operation

What a pleasure to listen to Ed Mayo, Co-operatives UK Secretary General, who give a talk on Acts of Co-operative.  Twelve cases of early Co-operation and Mutuality. UK Society for Co-operative Studies together with Central England Co-operative supported the lecture at the Secular Hall in Leicester to celebrate Co-operatives Fortnight.

Northern

University research on Social Enterprise and Co-operatives shared from around the World.

An International Research Conference on Social Enterprise took place at Sheffield Hallam University.  This was an excellent event to see how research can influence practice.  There were many workshops from Applying the Fairshares Model, Social Innovation in Education and how other universities from around the world deliver courses on Social

Northern

Educating the next generations of co-operators

As part of Co-operative Congress, Tanya Noon, Member & Community Relations Officer, outlined the number of projects that the Officers and the MCC Ambassadors delivered to a younger audience.  The main project she talked about was the Co-operative Masterlcass for 16 plus age group.  This was a way to engage

Northern

Co-operative Congress and the importance of celebrating

Central England Co-operative's delegation enjoyed both networking and learning form the many different workshops.  From women in co-operatives, Leading the way in a fairer economy, disrupting the disrupters which was about how co-ops were moving into the platform areas to take on big tech monopolies. No matter what

Northern

MCC Ambassadors embracing Co-op Congress

A great opportunity for members of the Membership & Community Council.  Co-operative Congress is held every year and celebrates the wealth of the movement and looks ahead at new initiatives and how co-operatives work better together. Alison Martin from the Northern MCC wrote: "This was my first attendance and

Northern

CELEBRATING CO-OPERATIVE FORTNIGHT

We are always promoting the Co-operative Sector and how important is is to both our economy and the communities in which we serve.  So from shopping in one of our stores to supporting another type of co-operative is beneficial to the Co-operative Movement.  So you can join a Consumer Co-operative,

Our Summer Food Bank Appeal aims to combat holiday hunger

Central England Co-op is launching a Summer Food Bank Appeal to try and combat holiday hunger after new figures revealed that over 350,000 children are currently living in child poverty across the area. We will be hosting special collection points in all of its local stores from 8 July

Co-op Fortnight – groups and good causes

Central England Co-operative is celebrating Co-op Fortnight by giving dozens of member groups, community groups and good causes space to promote and raise money in its food stores in the true spirit of ‘co-operation’. Getting underway on Monday, 24 June there is plenty going on so make sure you pop

Central England Co-op kicks off two weeks of mass co-operation

Central England Co-operative is celebrating Co-op Fortnight by throwing open the doors of its food stores to its local communities in the true spirit of ‘co-operation’. The Society has backed the two-week annual event, which runs from 24 June to 7 July, by giving dozens of its own member groups,

Southern

A Flying Start to Co-operative Fortnight for the Southern MCC

The Southern MCC have had a flying start to Co-operative Fortnight with ambassadors supporting various events across the region.  With better weather over the weekend, free healthy fruit kebabs went down a treat at both a Health & Well-being weekend in Kettering and at the Groby Street Fair in Leicester.

Co-operators ‘Unite’ at Congress

This weekend saw hundreds of Co-operators from around the UK unite at Co-operatives UK annual Congress. I am honoured to be one of many delegations from Central England Co-operative, and this is my account of the main day on Saturday. This year Congress was held in Manchester, a mere 14

Southern

Southern Co-operative Member Groups getting ready for Co-operative Fortnight

Co-operative Fortnight is upon us and this years theme is "Mass Co-operation".  The Fortnight provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the talents of many of our groups from calligraphy and embroidery to watercolour painting.  In the photograph is Jennie Fox, our embroidery tutor, with one of her students

Southern

Healthy Choices Workshops in High Demand in the Southern Region

Our healthy choices are always in high demand with bookings being taken for the new Autumn Term.  This week  we made a return visit to Fosse Primary School, which is close to our Fosse Road Central and Groby Road Stores, where we delivered an interactive classroom session on the importance

Western

Hundreds of young people ‘Tri’ a Mini Triathlon in Staffordshire

On Thursday close to 900 young people took on a Mini-Triathlon in Burntwood, Satffordshire thanks to a partnership with the Triathlon Trust and Central England Co-operative. The event in its second year took place at Burntwood Leisure Centre with young people from schools in the area coming along to take

Western

Community Games in Kings Norton

On Saturday the 15th of August [outlook-data-detector://0] James and myself attended the Kings Norton games. This is the second year that I've represented Central England Co-op at the Kings Norton Games. Just like last year a whole host of community groups and sports societies provided activities for

Southern

Joining the Generations project bringing benefits to young and old alike

An extraordinary project in Leicestershire inspired by a popular Channel 4 documentary series and supported by Central England Co-op has been showcased in a new film highlighting its benefits to the two generations taking part. The film tells the story of the Joining the Generations project, inspired by the Channel

Eastern

Hundreds of youngsters ‘give triathlon a tri’ in Great Yarmouth

Hundreds of children have completed the first Great Yarmouth Mini Tri today completing personal challenges, getting fit and active and most importantly having fun. Central England Co-op joined forces with the Triathlon Trust to hold the event in Bradwell where boys and girls in years three to seven, including those

Our Board of Directors

Co-operating on the waterways

Alongside my responsibilities as a Director of Central England Co-operative and my work with various other co-operatives, when I have some free time I like to get out and about around the canal network, see some wildlife and experience a different pace of life.  Being a member of the Jemima

Southern

Southern MCC Support Eco-Schools & Food for Life Celebration event in Leicester

The Southern MCC support Eco-Schools Leicester, who are funded by the City's Council, to educate children on how to protect the environment, where food comes from, and the importance of healthy eating.  Today, we were invited as part of the judging panel and we also donated some vouchers

Co-operation in the West Midlands

Tuesday saw the Annual General Meeting of Co-operatives West Midlands take place. The meeting saw Co-operators from over the West Midlands come together for a networking and question session. Our Society Chief Executive Debbie Robinson joined Co-operator Tom on the panel to talk about their thoughts and answer questions around

Southern

Fairtrade Assembly for 200 Pupils

Pupils from Fosse Primary School in Leicester enjoyed learning all about the difference Fairtrade makes to farmers and producers in third world countries and how by buying Fairtrade they can help to build wells, buy medicines and give children an education. They were left so inspired, they are now exploring

Charity forced to launch online funding appeal to help feed children in need this summer in Leicester

A Leicester charity which supports people in need in one of the most deprived communities in the country has launched a crowd funding campaign – to raise vital funds to stop children from going hungry this summer. St Matthews Big Local revealed that it had to set up an online fundraising

Film showcases how Community Dividend Fund is making a real difference in effort to improve computer skills in Birmingham

A community project aimed at helping people improve their computer skills has been featured in a special online film. Staff from The Job Marston Centre, in Hall Green, opened their doors to showcase the work they do in the local community and the impact that a recent grant from Central

Western

School Children ‘Buzzing’ about Bees

Today 30 year six pupils from a local Primary School in Kingstanding, Birmingham came to visit the Central England Co-operative Bee Education program in Northfield. The Bee Education program is delivered by Jackie and her team from EcoBirmingham.  The beehives are located at Allens Cross Community Garden the the heart