Central England Co-op is backing Mental Health Awareness Week

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 07/05/2018


Central England Co-operative is raising awareness about mental health problems by supporting Mental Health Awareness Week.

A special report has uncovered vital statistics that showcase the strides the Society has made since it signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge last year to break the silence around mental health.

The report showcases a range of highlights from the past 12 months including:

  • Over 600 colleagues have attended mental health first aid training courses, dementia friendly awareness sessions and mindfulness workshops
  • We have created 100 mental health and wellbeing champions who offer support by signposting colleagues towards resources and help regarding mental health
  • The Society has launched a colleague assistance programme, which is a 24-hour, seven day a week, confidential helpline
  • We signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge and vowed to break the silence around mental health
  • Several events were held in the community for customers and members such as special health MOTs

The Society will be also celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from May 14 to May 18, by hosting another round of courses for colleagues such as mental health first aid training days.

Tracey Orr, Support Services Executive, has spearheaded the Society’s efforts to tackle the issue of mental health as part of a specially formed mental health working party.

She said: “We are proud to be supporting Mental Health Awareness Week as the health and wellbeing of all of our colleagues is of the utmost importance to us.

“During the past 12 months we have raised awareness around the importance of mental health and wellbeing at work, championed the issue by providing the resources and tools for all colleagues and helped break the culture of silence around mental health.”

“Our Society is now more focused than ever in providing support for those who need it and working hard to end the discrimination and stigma associated with mental health.

“We have produced this film to celebrate the progress we have made and to showcase our ongoing commitment to raising awareness about mental health.”

 

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 the Society’s principal areas of activity being 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 2018.

 

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