Co-op Fortnight goes off with a bang in Yorkshire as Central England Co-op food store welcomes performance from drumming group

Posted by james brindle | Published: 10/07/2019


A Central England Co-op food store in South Yorkshire was alive with the sound of music during Co-op Fortnight as a popular drumming group put on a special performance for shoppers.

The Society celebrated the two-week annual event by giving dozens of its own member groups, community groups, local projects and good causes the opportunity to come into its food stores to promote, raise awareness or gather support for their local causes.

Valley Beats, which has drumming groups in Holmfirth and Denby Dale and has received funding and support from Central England Co-op’s Northern Membership and Community Council (MCC), were invited to perform at the retailer’s Dodworth Supermarket to mark the campaign.

Group leader Katie Mallard said: “We were delighted to be invited down to perform at Dodworth Supermarket for Co-op Fortnight. It’s nice to see the connection between Central England Co-op and the community and how they support community groups like us.

“The funding we’ve received from Central England Co-op has helped the group to become more stable and grow and inspire more and more people in the local area to discover the joy of Brazilian drumming.”

Manager at the High Street store Neil Holmes and his team got into the spirit and joined the drummers for part of the performance.

He said: “We were thrilled to mark Co-op Fortnight in this way and had great fun joining the group for a song as well. All the team are proud to be part of the community in Dodworth and South Yorkshire as a whole and are always keen to support great projects making a positive difference in the local community.”

Dodworth resident Malcolm Holling was among the shoppers who enjoyed a shopping visit with a difference thanks to the Valley Beats performance.

He said: “They were 10 out of 10 – brilliant. I heard them coming up the High Street and wanted to see what was going on. It was fantastic and it would be great to see them up here again.”

Among the other groups welcomed into stores in Yorkshire during the Fortnight were the River Holme Connections charity. The group were welcomed into Central England Co-op’s Holmfirth Road Food Store, in New Mill, to raise awareness of their work and offer the opportunity for customers and members to have a go at bird box making.

To see more of Central England Co-op’s activities during Co-op Fortnight 2019 visit www.membershipmatters.coop

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting www.members.coop

 

Notes to editors

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. 

It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, travel shops, and property investment.

Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2019.

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

Rob Smyth and James Brindle at Central England Co-operative on 01543 421390

Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop