Children can now play safe in Northamptonshire thanks to funding boost
Posted by nathan lloyd | Published: 07/04/2017
A recycled pirate ship that allows youngsters to enjoy the outdoors in Kettering has been given a funding boost from Central England Co-operative.
The Green Patch, operated by community improvement organisation Groundwork Northamptonshire, has used the £1,457.46 grant from the Eastern Membership and
Community Council to install a sandbox in a bid to create a safer play environment for children.
The pirate ship is part of a 2.5 acre site that has been improved by volunteers to include play areas, beehives, a pond and an orchard.
Sue McKay, from Groundwork, said: “The Green Patch is run by the charity Groundwork Northamptonshire and it is a community garden project.
“We are very grateful for the continuing support from Central England Co-operative who supports our after school sessions and recently funded the purchase of a wonderful sandpit.
“The Green Patch is a vibrant safe space which offers children from low to no income families in the surrounding area the opportunity to come along and learn about the environment, gardening, wildlife and fun in a friendly place.”
This funding boost comes as part of a long-standing relationship between Central England Co-operative and Groundwork in the area.
Karen Ball, 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 this project run by Groundwork.”
Central England Co-operative offers a wide range of educational and recreational workshops and classes for its members and communities. If you are interested in finding out more, please pop in to your local Central England Co-operative food store or email member.community@centralengland.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 projected gross sales of £958million for 2016/17. The Society recently celebrated being named Leading Co-operative of the Year 2016 by Co-operatives UK. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property. Central England Co-operative has more than 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. 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 Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children 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 http://www.centralengland.coop follo,w Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative
Rob Smyth – PR officer - Central England Co-operative - 01543 414140
Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop