Stafford community hub project has now helped over 250 people in just four weeks

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 01/05/2020


A community hub scheme run by Central England Co-op and Stafford Borough Council has now helped over 250 people.

The ground-breaking project, which sees the district council identify vulnerable people and work with the retailer to create and deliver vital food packages out of its community hub based at its Wildwood store, has supported 258 people in just four weeks.

The scheme, initially launched in Lichfield, has now also been rolled out by Central England Co-op in Derby and Burton, helping over 650 people in total across all four hubs.

James Knight, Member and Community Relations Officer for Central England Co-op, is managing the project for the retailer.

He said: “It is amazing to think we have helped over 250 people in four weeks – it is a testament to the true co-operation on show between us and the council.

“The feedback has been fantastic and really showcases the impact the project is having and will continue to have in the coming weeks.”

The retailer linked up with council workers to create a community hub at its Wildwood Food Store, in Cannock Road.

Stafford Borough Council then identify vulnerable community members, gather orders and pass them onto the store. Central England Co-op colleagues then create a package and take payment from the customer over the phone before the local authority delivers the goods.

Stafford Borough Council Leader Patrick Farrington said: “Our partnership with Central England Co-op is proving to be a vital lifeline for many in our community.

 “It is a completely new venture which is proving to be very successful. When you hear residents say our work is ‘life saving’ – you feel very humble indeed.

“Thank you to all who get this up and running so quickly and to those who are helping out with the ordering and deliveries of food to vulnerable and isolating residents in the borough.”

The council will not be asking for any payment information when they make the initial call. To find out more, visit www.staffordbc.gov.uk/Coronavirus

 

Notes to editors

Picture caption: Central England Co-op and Stafford Borough Council have teamed up to create a community hub to help those in need across the area.

 

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