Three groups across Norfolk and Suffolk handed £3,453 funding boost thanks to Central England Co-op

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 08/07/2019


Three groups aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities across Norfolk and Suffolk have shared a £3,453 community grant from Central England Co-operative’s Community Dividend Fund.

The organisations shared the payout, with a total of over £44,000 handed out to 36 good causes across 16 counties.

A total of £1,730 will be used by Conquest Art Group to create mobile art storage units and buy a selection of tools. The units are needed as members of the group are impacted by limited mobility due to a range of physical disabilities.

Davina Wilson, Conquest Art Group leader, said: “The grant will be used for specially designed storage units and new craft equipment to enable a much wider and more easily accessible choice for our members to enjoy, and allow everyone in our group the opportunity to explore different and exciting ways of being creative. 

“We are all really appreciative and so pleased to know our application has been successful.”    

Bungay Black Dog Running Club is looking to be more inclusive by using a £500 grant to pay for a disabled toilet to ensure potential members with disabilities are catered for.

Jayne Capps-Jenner, chairman of the club, said: “Having this facility will make a huge difference to the club in terms of being able to expand our membership of disabled people and offering them an equal opportunity to take part in regular activity.”

Brundall Allotment Association, which aims to encourage the community to produce healthy food choices, will use £1,223 to pay for a new poly-tunnel. The new equipment will allow for the group to appeal more to children and people with disabilities.

Grants of between £100 and £5,000 are handed out every three months to a wide range of applicants.

The fund guarantees that at least one per cent of the Society’s trading profit is reinvested in local communities in a bid to help projects to thrive across its trading area of 16 counties from the Midlands to the east coast.

People can apply for funding by visiting https://communities.centralengland.coop/

Central England Co-operative Store Manager Brad Tuckfield said: “We are delighted that these great projects and good causes have been handed a grant for the fantastic work they do in the community.

“Community Dividend Fund grants like this showcase how by being a member and shopping at your local Central England Co-op store allows us as a Society to continue to invest and fund vital projects in the area.”

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

 

Notes to editors

 

Picture caption: Members of groups in Norfolk and Suffolk celebrated being handed their grant from the Central England Co-operative Community Dividend Fund.

 

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 member 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