Video sing song aims to boost spirit of Central England Co-op group designed to help with isolation and loneliness

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 05/06/2020


The leader of a Central England Co-op group designed to help tackle isolation and loneliness has created a series of sing-a-long videos to give those struggling during lockdown a boost.

Singer Kathryn Buck can often be found running the Friendship Co-operative Group in Littleport to help those who are in need of support in the local area.

However, in face of the current restrictions due to the Coronavirus, she has come up with an online way of keeping in touch with those who normally get a weekly boost from being part of the group and others across the community.

She has dusted off her microphone and created six sing-a-long videos to bring a little cheer to those in need of a lockdown pick me up.

Kathryn said: “Our members absolutely love coming to the Friendship Co-operative Group. They feel relaxed, have a good chat and some fun, and take part in an activity and raffle each time.

“They are provided with refreshments, plus they have something in their diaries to look forward to at the beginning of each month.

“We are all missing holding the group at the moment so I decided to sing a few songs for everyone to help lift sprits until we can meet again in person.

“But we also hope the wider community enjoy them and it can help lift any gloom people have in their lives at this time.”

The group, which began in December 2017, is provided with financial support by Central England Co-operative’s Member and Community Relations Officer Kym Hunt and her Membership and Community Council.

Kym said: “The group aims to tackle isolation and loneliness, which at this moment could not be more of a priority with people self-isolating and facing lockdown.

“This is such a great idea by Kathryn and is a great showcase of co-operation in action to help lift the spirits of our group but also the local community as well.”

People can also keep up to date with what is happening in their local community in response to Coronavirus by visiting a dedicated online hub at www.centralengland.coop/updates

 

 

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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