Central Midlands - The Co-operative

Together we can
build a better world
2012
Committee elections
Your candidates
Central & Eastern
Region
Central Midlands
Area

Together we can
build a better world
Thank you for taking the time to vote in
The Co-operative Membership 2012 elections,
your vote really does make a difference.
This booklet has all the information you
need to know about the people who would like
to represent you on your Area Committee.
The process of voting is very easy, and just
takes a little time for you to consider which of
the candidates you would prefer to represent
your views.
To help your deliberations we have broken up
the process into four easy steps:
On page 4 you will find some
STEP 1 information about your current Area
Committee and on the following page we
tell you more about how many places are
available on your committee.
Each candidate has provided an
election address which should help
you make your decision.
STEP 2
Once you have a good idea of what
STEP 3 each representative stands for, use
the ballot paper to indicate your preferences.
All the details you need about the election can
be found on the ballot paper. Remember, you
can vote online if you prefer, in which instance
you will receive 25 membership points. Again
further details are provided on the ballot paper.
Sit back and relax, feeling great
STEP 4
that you have done something that
will really make a difference to you, your
community and the co-operative you part own.
Thanks again for your support.
The photograph on the front cover features three members who were elected to Area Committee for the
first time in 2011: Irene Duckworth (Central & Eastern Region), Anna Brisley (North West & North Midlands
Region) and Martin Ferguson (Scotland & Northern Ireland Region).
2012 Elections
3

Your current
committee.
For your information, here are details
relating to your current Area Committee:
Your committee
Attendance at
committee meetings
Name Possible Actual
Dave Boston 7 5
Darren Burdis 7 7
John Crouch 2 3 7 7
Jenny de Villiers 2 7 7
Peter Ford 4 6 6
Simon Kilbey 7 7
Kay Milton 7 7
Sophie Neill 7 7
Ted Perfect 1 7 7
Dave Thompson 2 7 7
Chris Winterton 7 4
Janet Wise 7 7
1 Committee Chair
2 Regional Board member
3 Group Values & Principles Committee
4 Co-optee
Gender profile
Total number of members
Number of men
Number of women
Age profile
Under 30
30 – 49
50 – 69
70+
Not disclosed
Ethnic profile
White
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups
Asian/Asian British
Black/African/
Caribbean/Black British
Other ethnic group
Not disclosed
12
8
4
0
4
7
1
0
12
0
0
0
0
0
Area Committee members currently
receive an annual fee of £2,173.55
plus expenses, with the Chairs of
committees receiving an extra £543.39

Introducing
your Area
Committee
candidates.
So who’s standing?
There are 6 places available on
the Central Midlands Area Committee.
7 candidates have put themselves forward:
Sophie Neill 1
Peter Ford 2
Dean Collier
Garry Hickton
The following terms of office are available.
The length of the term to be served will
depend upon the order in which the
candidates achieve the required Quota of
votes:
4 places for 3 years
2 places for 1 year
Jenny de Villiers 1
Helen Clark
Chris Winterton 1
1 Current committee member
2 Current co-opted committee
member
The results of the election will be
declared on Wednesday 8th August.
They will be posted on our website:
www.co-operative.coop/membership
and will be publicised widely in our
local co-operative businesses.
2012 Elections
5

Membership
events
near you
Rhythms of the World
Priory Park, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
14 & 15 July
If you intend going to this years ROTW festival why not come and visit our stand and
campervan. The ‘Smile Campervan Tour’ will form a part of this world music festival.
Come along and help us celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives.
Tickets are available from the Rhythms of the world web site: www.rotw.org.uk
Milton Keynes International Festival, Performance of
‘As the World Tipped’
Campbell Park, Central Milton Keynes
25 & 26 July
An epic outdoor multi-media performance combining dramatic film visual with
breathtaking aerial performance – a compelling vision of a planet in crisis.
Booking is essential; see the Central & Eastern region events diary website
for further information.
Nottinghamshire Pride
Forest Fields Recreation Ground, Nottingham
28 & 29 July
Come and visit our ‘youth zone’ and campervan to celebrate the International Year
of Co-operatives and enjoy a whole range of exciting activities, no need to book just
come down from Midday Saturday and Sunday to see what’s going on.
For more information please visit
www.co-operativememberevents.coop, scan the QR code
or call your regional office on 01908 361500.
Central & Eastern Region

Who’s who?
Area Committee members are ideally
passionate about supporting their local
community and its people. They’ll be
creative and will have, or want to gain, an
understanding of our business operations
and of the commercial environment in which
The Co-operative Group operates.
To help you choose who to vote for, each
candidate has provided an election address
of up to 220 words. Candidates have been
encouraged to use the election address to
refer to their involvement in the Group and
any relevant experience, qualifications and
qualities.
Candidates have also been encouraged to
submit a recent photograph.
Candidates’ statements appear in random
order in this booklet and on the ballot paper.
Encouraging diversity
The Co-operative Group is committed to
supporting our elected bodies in becoming
more representative of the members and
communities that we serve – whether in
respect of gender, age, ethnicity or other
diversity criteria. Liaising closely with our
Membership Diversity Working Group we
aim to encourage the involvement of a
broader and more diverse range of members
in The Co-operative Group’s affairs.
Candidates have been asked for diversity
information for monitoring purposes in order
to help us measure our progress.
On page 4 you will find diversity
information relating to your current
Area Committee.
2012 Elections
7

Sophie
Neill
Long Eaton
Peter
Ford
Beeston
“
I have been an area committee member
for the past 3 years, so thank you to the
members that voted for me then. I have
enjoyed learning about all aspects of the
Co-operative and the family of businesses
(Food, Bank, Travel, Insurance, Pharmacy,
Funeralcare, Legal Services, Electrical,
and Motors) and the wider co-operative
movement and been inspired by the cooperators
I have met.
Part of an area committee members’ role is
to score the community fund applications.
When reading the applications, I make
informed decisions based on the facts, and I
will stand up for what I believe in.
I have a sense of fairness, I shop fairtrade
and promote fairtrade to others (I have
recently baked cakes using fairtrade
ingredients, which has been popular with
work colleagues!). I am sociable and
approachable, members have come to me
with their concerns and I’ve represented their
views at area committee meetings, these
concerns have then been escalated.
I believe in the Co-op’s values and principles
and have been involved in global campaigns
through supporting members’ events, like
the Wave March in London highlighting
climate change and the bee walk in
Attenborough Nature Reserve which was
delivered by the Bumblebee Conservation
Trust.
If elected again I will continue to be an active
member and promote the Co-op’s values and
principles.
“
“
As a current co-opted member of the Central
Midlands Area Committee seeking election,
I’m keen to continue my active involvement
with the Co-operative Group since retiring as
a Co-operative Financial Adviser in 2010.
Attending Committee meetings is a small
part of what elected members do, and we
frequently promote Co-operative Values
and Principles on behalf of our members
right across the area. I have enjoyed taking
part in store visits, gathering grass-roots
opinions from both staff and customers and a
Fairtrade Producer Event where a West Indian
banana farmer described to members of the
public the benefits to growers of the Fairtrade
system.
Aston University Eco Week was an interesting
event promoting our attitudes to combating
climate change and the Envision Big Brum
Challenge was aimed at inspiring young
people, so I’m looking forward to taking an
active role in more such occasions.
One of the most important responsibilities I
wish to continue with is the distribution of the
member-donated Co-operative Community
Fund to deserving projects across the whole
of our area, ensuring that we fulfil our social
profit sharing goals.
“
The Co-operative Group covers a wide
range of businesses from food to funerals
and I believe it’s important to represent all
our members in ensuring that we go from
strength to strength locally, regionally and
nationally.

Dean
Collier
Sandiacre
Garry
Hickton
Draycott
“
I have been a active member of the Cooperative
Group for many years now and
have regularly attended many members
events and activities throughout the region.
By being actively involved I am able to take
an interest in the Co-operative Group and
its values & principles, have the opportunity
to promote and encourage other members
of the public to shop at the Co-op and to be
more aware of the Co-operative’s Ethical
Trading Standards.
Membership and our members are the heart
of the Co-operative Group and if we all work
together by sharing our passions and ideas,
we can build a stronger and better world. To
achieve this, we as members must all get
involved and be a part of the Co-operative’s
democracy.
I would welcome and value your support in
the forthcoming election which, if successful,
would give me the opportunity to represent
you, our members at an area committee
level. By voting for me, you are giving me
the chance to become the voice of our
membership and the communities the Cooperative
serves and supports.
“
“
I have worked for the Co-operative Group for
23 years in various roles and depots across
the country, but always within distribution. My
current role is a warehouse Team Leader in
the Coventry National Distribution Centre.
Throughout my time, I have seen a good
many changes aimed at making the Group
an employer of choice whilst providing an
excellent customer focus. I believe that what
sets the Group ahead of its competitors is
its values and principles, the way in which
these are incorporated into all aspects of
the business to ensure equality in all of its
transactions.
Out of work, I am married with a young son, I
am a borough and county councillor and this
year was selected as one of the Co-operative
Group’s Global Poverty ambassadors. I am an
activist inside and outside of work, striving to
be a voice that drives positive change for all
concerned.
My aim in seeking election as an area
committee member is to use my political
knowledge of campaigning and lobbying,
couple this with my enthusiasm and belief
in the core Co-operative values of equality,
self-help and democracy, to help mould the
future of the Co-operative to be bigger and
brighter than ever!
“
2012 Elections
9

Jenny
de Villiers
East Leake
Helen
Clark
Borrowash
“
I have been your representative on the
Central Midlands Area Committee since
1999. We are in an increasingly competitive
world and we should be proud that we are
supporting a British business backed up with
values and principles that seek to make a
difference, not only to ourselves but to the
wider world. However, it is not enough to
be loyal to our values and it is our challenge
to ensure that we are an efficient, customer
focussed and price favourable co-operative
business. We support local communities
and have defined social goals into which our
profits are re-invested but is our message
clear to our shoppers and members? Do we
make enough effort to communicate that we
are not a shareholder driven business but we
have a unique difference? Our democratic
structure proves that we can implement a
checks and balance approach to ensure
that our products are ethical and can be
trusted. How can we move forward to the
next generation without making a contribution
to this one? We have to meet competition
and be sure that as a co-operative business
we are raising the bar. I continue to work
in your interests to ensure that you receive
the benefits and services required to take us
forward into the future.
“
“
I have a BA and MA from Bristol University.
I am an Assessor in English Literature;
formerly Senior English Teacher; Consultant
with the Association of British Insurers; Head
of Campaigns with the Multiple Sclerosis
Society and 8 years (1997-2005) as MP for
Peterborough.
My family in Derbyshire and Gloucestershire
were co-operators for the duration of the
20th century and co-operative values are
dear to me.
I am Secretary of the Long Eaton Cooperative
Party Branch and served on the
Kent Area Committee; representing it at
Congress, Annual and Half Yearly Meetings. I
attended the Co-op College, studying the milk
operation and worker Co-ops and served on
the CWS Political Committee.
I was a Co-op Parliamentary Panellist.
I have an excellent relationship with
our Borrowash Co-op and as the Co
co- ordinator of ‘Unexamined Lives’ a
retrospective of 20th century Borrowash,
have written about the Co-op as a local
educator and employer, in articles published
by The Derby Telegraph.
“
I offer excellent communication skills;
effective work with committees; commercial
and voluntary experience and above all,
enthusiasm and initiative. Election to the
Committee would be an honour.

Chris
Winterton
Mansfield
“
Chris Winterton is an Area Committee
Member for Central Midlands, who is active
on co-operative issues, supports fair trade,
ethical and diverse issues and wants to build
a better world.
As a member of the Group and Co-op Party
he is very active in the local community and
is a co-op sponsored councillor. Chris speaks
out for the Co-operative policies, supports
credit unions and Housing Co-operatives
and has sent a motion on housing to the
Co-op Conference. Chris promotes the idea
of sustainable co-operatives that are a more
equitable way of organising society. He
believes that we must source products from
the most local source to improve the carbon
footprint of the business. He also works on
health issues and child poverty in the local
area, helping to regenerate communities.
Chris has over 20 years in the co-operative
movement and has represented the Co-op
on panels about the aspirations of the Co-op.
He believes that health improvement can be
achieved through the pharmacy business and
supports the Group stance on healthy eating.
Co-operative people are making a difference.
In 2012, the international year for Cooperatives,
let’s all have an Olympic year and
win some gold medals for the movement in
this co-operative year.
Chris would like your support in this election
to continue his work in the Co-operative
movement.
“
Vote to help feed the
world fairly and
sustainably
Betty Chesang, Kibagenge, Kenya.
Betty is one of 500 million smallholder farmers
who together feed nearly a third of humanity.
We believe with the right tools, training and
investment, these smallholder farmers – many
of whom are women – offer an excellent route
to help sustainably feed the world’s growing
population. What’s more, if supported to form
co-operatives, this enables them to pool
resources, increase yields and secure fairer
prices. Alongside Oxfam, we’re calling on the
UK Government to unlock greater support for
smallholder farmers and co-operatives to feed
the world fairly and sustainably.
Vote to take action! Mark the box on your
ballot paper to add your name to our call on the
UK Government to unlock greater support for
smallholder farmers and co-operatives to feed the
world fairly and sustainably. Find out more or take
action online at: www.co-operative.coop/grow
12590 Co-op-Oxfam Advert Half Page.indd 1 2012 15/05/2012 Elections 09:57 11

2012
Committee elections
Together we can
build a better world
Your new representatives will soon be making a real difference in your local area.
If you think you could do the same and would like to find out more, get in touch.
For further information please go to www.co-operative.coop/membership
Access for all
The Co-operative Group’s Customer Relations team can provide publications in Braille,
in large print and on cassette.
Freephone 0800 0686 727
Minicom 0800 0686 717
Email customer.relations@co-operative.coop
Write to The Co-operative Group, Freepost – MR9473, Manchester M4 8BA
Web www.co-operative.coop
Co-operative Group Limited, Registered office: New Century House, Manchester M60 4ES. Reg No 525R.
We like our communications to have an impact on you – but not the environment which is why this book is produced using paper from sustainable sources.
Please pass on or recycle this booklet once you have finished with it.