Twenty groups from across Anglia and the East share nearly £3,000 in funding

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 08/12/2017


Twenty groups across Anglia and the east have shared nearly £3,000 in funding thanks to Central England Co-operative.

A diverse range of projects ranging from educational bee visits to breakfast clubs for children have been supported by the Society’s Eastern Membership and Community Council.

Organisations boosted by funding include Home-Start Market Harborough, Brundall Community Allotment, and Peterborough and District Bee Keepers.

Money will be used to pay to help promote responsible drinking at Christmas, provide festive meals for those in need and a variety of Christmas related events.

Karen Bevan, Member and Community Relations Officer, 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 and education of local people.

“It is really important to have strong links with the local community and I am proud the Eastern Membership and Community Council were able to support a total of 20 good causes across the area ranging from Leicester to Norfolk.”

The Society runs six regional Membership & Community Councils across 16 counties, which are made up of Co-op members who are passionate about their community and want to make a difference within it.

Each council is given funding and support by the Society to organise activities and events ranging from keep fit and gardening to educational visits, school workshops and dance classes.

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

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 gross sales of £927 million in 2016/17. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, 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 2017.

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