Co-op store launches new food bank with East Staffordshire charity to help families in need

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 13/08/2018

A Central England Co-operative Food Store has teamed up with an East Staffordshire charity to help collect items to create vital food parcels to help people in need.

Castle Park Food Store, based in Horninglow Road North, Burton, will now host a special food bank all year round, with any donation made by customers and members benefitting local people who are supported by East Staffordshire Family Support Service.

The charity helps any family in the area with children aged up to 19 years old by offering one-to-one, home-based support and interactive peer groups, promoting positive parenting and support for the whole family.

James Knight, Member and Community Relations Officer for Central England Co-op, said: “The Co-operative has a long tradition of giving back to the community, and we welcome the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of local people.

“It is really important to have strong links with the local community and I am proud to be able to launch this food bank to help benefit the great work that the East Staffordshire Family Support Service does in the area.”

Central England Co-op works all year round with over 50 different food bank partners after the scheme was initially launched during Christmas 2013.

The food banks in stores have resulted in thousands of people every month from Birmingham to Norfolk being given enough food to cook meals.

So far this year over 200,000 items have been donated by customers and members to help people in need.

Ian North, Chief Executive at East Staffordshire Family Support Service, said: “It’s great to be working with Central England Co-op helping support families across East Staffordshire.

“Working in partnership with our community enables us to not only support families but also help them when times get difficult.

 “We offer family support through a tailored approach to the whole family and now we can offer food parcels which can make all the difference to families in their time of need.

 “We would like to thank Central England Co-op for their ongoing support.”

Items that can be donated include shopping basket staples from tea, sugar and cereals to other essentials such as toiletries and hygiene products.

Eileen Banton, who played a key role in securing the new link between store and charity, said: “The food bank is a new addition to the already great support being given to families.

“I am very grateful for the support from Central England Co-op in having a food bank in store as it will make such a difference.

“If customers can add an extra tin to their shopping and place it in the collection box, they will be helping those in the community who are in need of a little extra help.”

Notes to editors

Picture caption: Harvey Girls Chairman Ian North, Food Bank facilitator Eileen Banton, Castle Park Food Store Duty Manager Ashley Seagrave and Member and Community Relations Officer James Knight celebrate the new food bank partnership between Central England Co-op and Harvey Girls.

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 2018.

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 / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140

Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop

                About Harvey Girls

Contact name:                  Ian North, Chief Executive Officer

Address:              Harvey Girls Centre, 73 Horninglow Road, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. DE14 2PT

Contact telephone number: 07557 529983