Lifesavers in Nuneaton handed funding boost from Central England Co-op
Posted by rob smyth | Published: 23/04/2018
A group of volunteers who respond to emergencies in Nuneaton have been boosted following a donation from Central England Co-operative’s Community Dividend Fund.
West Leicestershire Community First Responders Group works with East Midlands Ambulance Service to help out people who suffer life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks, strokes and chest pains in rural areas.
They will now be better equipped to help people in need after being handed £1,400 to pay for a new lifesaving defibrillator.
The group has been active for 14 years and now has more than 40 volunteers.
Community first responder Derek Windybank said: “Without this donation we would not be able to maintain the level of support to the ambulance service within our local communities.”
West Leicestershire Community First Responders Group were one of 40 good causes across 16 counties that shared a total of £45,000 between them as part of the latest Community Dividend Fund payout.
Michelle Ward, Newbold Verdon food store manager, said: “We are delighted that West Leicestershire Community First Responders Group has been handed a grant for the great work they do in the community.
“Community Dividend Fund grants like this showcase how being a member and shopping in our stores helps us as a Society continue to invest and fund vital projects in the local area.”
The grant for a defibrillator comes on the back of a major project by Central England Co-op which has seen over 300 of the lifesaving devices installed outside food stores and funeral homes across 16 counties thanks to funds raised through the 5p carrier bag levy.
Grants of between £100 and £5,000 are handed out every three months to a wide range of applicants.
The fund guarantees that at least one per cent of the Society’s trading profit is reinvested in local communities in a bid to help projects to thrive across its trading area of 16 counties from the Midlands to the east coast.
People can apply for funding by visiting https://communities.centralengland.coop/
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
Picture caption: West Leicestershire Community First Responders Group celebrated being handed their grant from the Central England Co-operative Community Dividend Fund.
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