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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

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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

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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

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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.

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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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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’

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 Community Council

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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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