Community hub project aimed at delivering food to the vulnerable hits milestone of helping 1,500 people

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 26/06/2020

A community hub project that helps deliver vital food to the vulnerable has now helped over 1,500 people.

The scheme sees Central England Co-op link up with local councils and organisations to identify those in need, pick and pack their shopping and deliver it to their front door due to the fact that they are self-isolating.

The first community hub, which are all based out of local Central England Co-op stores, was based in Lichfield but now four other sites – Stafford, Derby, Burton and Leicester – are up and running and helping hundreds of people each and every week.

In less than three months, the ground-breaking project has helped just over 1,500 people in total.

James Knight, the Member and Community Relations Officer for Central England Co-op managing the project, said: “It is great to reach the milestone of 1,500 and know our work with great partners has made such a difference.

“It is also fantastic to be able to announce this during Co-operatives Fortnight as this project is a perfect example of co-operation in action and fits perfectly with this year’s slogan Let’s Build Something Better Together’.”

In Lichfield, the retailer is operating out of its Boley Park food store and being supported by Lichfield District Council.

In Burton, the retailer is operating out of its Stapenhill food store and being supported by Burton Albion Community Trust.

In Derby, the retailer is operating out of its Littleover food store and being supported by Derby City Council.

In Stafford, the retailer is operating out of its Wildwood food store and being supported by Stafford Borough Council.

People can find out more details about the individual hubs online at www.centralengland.coop/updates

Co-op Fortnight takes place between Monday, June 22 and Sunday, July 5 and the theme this year is ‘Keep Co-operating’.

The annual event is organised by Co-operatives UK and this year the Fortnight aims to harness the new culture of co-operation and change in everyday behaviour brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic to raise awareness of co-ops and the values that run through our diverse sector.

Notes to editors

Picture caption: Central England Co-op’s James Knight packing a delivery for one of the vulnerable people being helped by the community hub scheme.

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK with interests in food, funeral, floral, travel and property investment.

Co-operatives have always been there for their communities; they were formed to protect them and help them flourish. 

Our 7,900 colleagues who serve Members and customers work hard to ensure that co-operative values, principles and spirit flow through everything we do to help support and improve our local communities.

Owned by hundreds of thousands of Members, we have over 430 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. 

We are proud of our reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.

We invest a percentage of our trading profit into local communities through our Community Dividend Fund scheme, have donated over £1.3 million to our corporate charity partner Dementia UK and also operate a pioneering food redistribution partnership with FareShare Midlands so unsold food goes to those in need.

Visit www.centralengland.coop for more information or follow us on Facebook or Twitter using @mycoopfood

Press office contacts: Rob Smyth and James Brindle

Phone - 01543 421390

Email - publicrelations@centralengland.coop