Central England Co-op issues a call for community volunteers to help those self-isolating

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 30/03/2020


Central England Co-op is asking its members and customers to help people who are self-isolating by becoming one of a growing number of community volunteers.

The retailer, which has over 240 stores across 16 counties, is appealing for anyone who is fit and able to sign up to the scheme and support someone who is need of a helping hand during these uncertain times.

All they have to do is pick up a special green card located in all stores, fill in their details and pop it through the door of someone they know is self-isolating in their community.

The project has already been a big hit, with thousands of community volunteers coming forward to do everything from picking up shopping to just being on the end of the phone for a chat.

Jenny Holden, Customer Services Assistant at Overseal Food Store, said: “We have seen so many people take one of these cards and become community volunteers.

“We are all facing challenges at this time but what really is nice to see is how people are also thinking of others.

“If you know someone who is self-isolating pick up one of these cards, fill it in and pop it through their letterbox – it could make all the difference.”

This is the latest in a range of measures Central England Co-op has put in place to support its communities at this uncertain time.
These include:

  • New hygiene, safety and social distancing measures in its stores to protect colleagues and customers
  • An urgent food bank appeal to support local charities and groups who have reported a fall in donations and rise in demand
  • Donations to FareShare Midlands and Dementia UK to allow them to continue their vital community services

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

 

 

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 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