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

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