Northern Ireland - The Co-operative

Together we can 

build a better world 

2012 

Council elections 

Your candidates 

Scotland and 

Northern Ireland 

Region 

Northern Ireland 

Area



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 Members Council. 

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 

Members Council and on the following page 

we tell you more about how many places are 

available on your council. 

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 

council. 

For your information, here are details 

relating to your current Members Council: 

Your Council 

Attendance at 

committee meetings 

Name Possible Actual 

Stanley Blayney 7 7 

Wendy Cooke 7 5 3 

Colm Donaghy 4 0 

Gavin Ewing 2 7 7 

Colin Ferguson 7 7 

Gillian Graham 7 7 

Erskine Holmes 7 6 

Carmel Irvine 7 5 

Hilary Justin 2 7 6 

Sandra Kempton 7 7 

Anna McAleavy 7 5 

Lesley McAskie 7 5 

Christopher McCaughan 1 7 7 

Tony McMullan 7 6 

David Morrow 2 7 7 

Nigel Murray 7 6 

Ruth Parkes 7 7 

Lorraine Shearer 3 3 

Sylvia Trimble 7 7 

Jean Wilson 7 7 

1 Council Chair 

2 Regional Board member 

3 On other Co-operative business – 2 meetings 

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 

Council members currently receive 

an annual fee of £3,387.56 plus 

expenses, with the Chairs of councils 

receiving an extra £846.62 

20 

9 

11 

1 

8 

9 

1 

1 

8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

12

Introducing 

your Members 

Council candidates. 

So who’s standing 

There are 9 places available on 

the Northern Ireland Members Council. 

12 candidates have put themselves forward: 

David Morrow 1 

Sandra Kempton 1 

Eleanor Leeman 

Sylvia Trimble 1 

Gavin Ewing 1 

Christopher McCaughan 1 

Erskine Holmes 1 

Palma Hagan 

Norma Young 

Shane Brogan 

Victoria Wilson 

Wendy Cooke 1 

1 Current council member 

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: 

7 places for 3 years 

1 place for 2 years 

1 place for 1 year 

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. 


5

Exclusive 

member 

offer 

The Co-operative is again sponsoring the Grand Opera House’s Summer 

Youth Project to inspire over 200 young people to learn about theatre with 

professional staff. 

This year’s show is HONK!, a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian 

Anderson’s tale, the Ugly Duckling. 

Honk! has won multiple awards including the 2000 Oliver Award for 

Best Musical, beating the Lion King and Mamma Mia for the prize. 

Members can get a 10% discount 

off tickets for the opening night, Thursday 26th July. 

To get your discounted tickets, telephone the box office 

of the Grand Opera House Belfast, 028 90 241919 

and quote The Co-operative Discount when booking. 

HONK! performances run from Thursday 26th July 

to Sunday 29th July. 

Northern Ireland Region

Who’s who 

Council 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 

Members Council. 


7

David 

Morrow 

Greenisland 

Sandra 

Kempton 

Larne 

“ 

I have been representing the interests of The 

Co-operative Group membership locally in 

Northern Ireland for 7 years and for 4 years 

at Regional Board in Scotland. 

I have campaigned for the same customer 

offer to be available to all Co-operative 

Group members throughout the UK. It is now 

expected that online electrical goods will be 

available to Northern Ireland customers from 

the end of 2012. Customers will now be 

able to avail of discounted electrical goods 

delivered to their homes. 

I have campaigned tirelessly for a greater cooperative 

presence locally with the opening of 

new food stores and a new funeral home this 

year in Northern Ireland. 

I attend members meetings and visit cooperative 

trading business regularly, willingly 

taking forward member and consumer views 

to the management of the group. 

With other colleagues on the Northern 

Ireland Members Council we agree how the 

community fund is distributed to help local 

good causes, also we agree on how the 

membership budget is used to provide events 

for members such as the Titanic event and 

the events held in the Ulster museum. 

I am about to complete the Group Board 

Development program to enable a local 

representative to stand for election to the 

Group board in Manchester. 

I am young, enthusiastic, passionate and 

determined to promote the co-operative 

difference! 

“ 

“ 

I joined the Co-op 10 years ago and currently 

serve on the Northern Ireland Members’ 

Council and also sit on the community fund 

sub-committee. 

I worked for the Co-operative in a local 

Funeral Business for 19 years, retiring 3 

years ago. 

Last year I was asked to come back part 

time. My work now involves contacting and 

arranging meetings with local community 

groups and giving help and advice so they 

can continue their work. 

During my time on the N.I.M.C, I have 

undertaken various training courses, giving 

me a better understanding of the Co-op 

family of businesses. I have also attended 

meetings and conferences in Scotland and 

England, reporting back to the council. I 

am also a member of the N.I. Co-operative 

Forum. 

The co-op were one of the first businesses to 

explore fair trade making such a difference to 

the lives of growers abroad. I would hope to 

see more shops opening especially in country 

areas where they can continue to give good 

service and support to the local community. 

Also more branches of the Co-op bank, giving 

members more choice of financial services. 

“

Eleanor 

Leeman 

Belfast 

Sylvia 

Trimble 

Clogher 

“ 

I have been a co-op customer for years and 

have attended the majority of Membership 

events held over the last 3 years where I 

learned a lot about the Co-op organisation. 

As an experienced Sales Administrator in a 

large company I’m used working as part of 

a team and have extensive knowledge about 

solving problems both in the wholesale and 

retail context. Being involved in various 

charity management committees I also have 

an understanding of community needs and 

services. 

My experience gained over the last 40 

years as secretary to various voluntary 

organisations including environmental groups, 

chairperson of PTA, and governor of local 

boy’s school and more recently secretary to 

large ladies club. I helped my husband run 

a small business for 12 years this gives me 

insight into business problems. 

I would like to see the Co-operative Group 

become more attractive to young people who 

would promote the principles and values of 

the Group. They would help it play a full role 

in the local community and also expand it into 

many more towns and villages. 

“ 

“ 

After leaving teaching, I trained in Counselling 

Studies and Pastoral Care and now volunteer 

with two charities in my local community. I 

have also initiated the delivery of a budgeting 

course in the community through my Church. 

My aspirations for the Co-operative are 

improved standards and value in all our 

businesses, with continued emphasis on 

ethical campaigns, gaining us growing 

trust and respect. We should aim to be a 

model business for the 21 st century, setting 

standards of best practice, achieving results 

and utilising profits for the benefit of our 

members and communities. 

I was a member of the Sperrin and Lakeland 

Area Committee before election to the 

Northern Ireland Members’ Council, in which 

I now serve as Vice Chair. My commitment 

to co-operation has grown over the last 

ten years, along with my understanding of 

democratic structures, membership matters 

and the financial aspect of the business. I 

have attended Members’ meetings and 

events, locally and nationally, have carried 

out all the duties of Council Member to the 

best of my ability and completed seven of the 

eight modules required for the new Certificate 

in Co-operation. 

I believe I possess the experience, 

focus, commitment, communication and 

interpersonal skills and team-player mind-set 

to continue in my current role and ask for 

your support and your vote. 

Thank- you. 

“ 


9

Gavin 

Ewing 

Dromore 

Christopher 

McCaughan 

Ballycastle 

“ 

I regard it as a privilege to be an elected 

member of the Northern Ireland Members 

Council and the Scotland and Northern 

Ireland Board. 

I believe that this is a huge responsibility as 

the members are our greatest strength; it is 

what makes us different to the rest of our 

competitors. 

I have been a Co-operative store manager for 

nearly twenty years. I believe that in this role 

I have a unique opportunity to listen to the 

members/customers on a daily basis at first 

hand and the ability to represent their needs 

to senior managers within the business. 

Over the last five years we have revitalised 

our business, doubling sales, profits and 

membership. In Northern Ireland we have 

also delivered record profits. 

Our region must however continue to strive 

for more stores to increase our trading 

outlets. We must ensure that we listen to 

our members and continue to strive for a first 

class customer shopping experience to be 

proud of. 

I am passionate and excited about the 

future of the Co-operative in our region and I 

promise if elected I will work hard to promote, 

listen and enrich the Members Council and 

Scotland and Northern Ireland Regional 

Board. 

I kindly ask for your support. 

“ 

“ 

Thank you for voting for me in the past and 

I am asking you once again to lend me your 

vote. I have been with The Co-operative for 

ten years and I have served as Chairman of 

the Northern Irelands Members Council for 

the last three years 

I am outspoken. I work hard for better 

conditions for employees and customers. 

I want more profit sharing for them. I want 

to increase the size of the dividend so more 

customers will become members and receive 

more rewards. 

I want a better variety of quality food at a 

cheaper competitive price. Bring the food 

prices down. 

Our staff are our ambassadors. They are 

a great asset in turning customers into 

members. We need more incentives for them. 

Rewards for sales efforts would increase their 

minimum wage. We need better employee 

health care. We need more shops. We need 

e-commerce where you can buy on line and 

have goods delivered to your own door. 

We need to expand our Co-operative 

business into the south of Ireland. Grow the 

business. Empower our managers to buy 

local produce. 

More prize draws to make dealing with us 

more exciting and more fun. 

“ 

I have the experience and the ability. All I am 

asking is for the chance to make The Cooperative 

work better for you.

Erskine 

Holmes 

Belfast 

Palma 

Hagan 

Carrickfergus 

“ 

I oppose store closures without a 

replacement and expansion programme. I 

also call for Co-operative Electrical to give us 

the same access to goods as GB and work 

with our credit unions to provide affordable 

co-operative credit. 

I believe that the Co-operative can do more in 

NI than sell food, holidays, financial services, 

funerals and pharmaceuticals. In England 

Co-ops provide a range of services from 

childcare to retirement homes. We can do the 

same either directly or in partnership with the 

wider community. The Co-operative wants 

to support change throughout the world in 

International Year of Co-operation 2012 but 

we need to start at home in Northern Ireland. 

It would help if more power was delegated to 

NI Members Council. 

I have helped to set up the NI Assembly All 

Party Co-operative Group which has met 

to discuss Energy Co-operatives and Cooperative 

Housing. We have now the active 

support of at least one MLA from each party. 

I have a special interest in Co-operative 

Housing and set up the NI Co-ownership 

Society which has helped 30,000 first time 

buyers into home ownership. I was also a 

founding director of the not for profit Ulster 

Community Investment Trust which has 

made over £30m in loans to community 

enterprises. I am Chairman of Co-operative 

Press the publisher of Co-operative News. 

“ 

“ 

As a full time working mother of one, I have 

experienced the loss of a local shop in the 

heart of my community. It was a service that 

I and the local residents depended heavily 

upon. Not only did the store provide much 

needed employment it also contributed to the 

well being of the customers with the fresh 

fruit and produce it provided. 

My daughter is learning about Fairtrade at 

school and I know that the Co-operative 

is championing this in all of their stores. 

Having attended Fairtrade events in the past 

by the Co-operative, I understand this is a 

core value of the Group who strive to raise 

more awareness and I would like to learn 

more. 

If elected I would like to see more stores 

opening throughout Northern Ireland in 

areas that need them the most, unlike other 

retailers that monopolise small towns the Cooperative 

actively seeks to be involved in the 

community, with regards to the charity work 

and values & principles they promote. 

I would not only be privileged be become 

your local elected member, I would also be 

honoured to be involved in something that I 

believe makes a difference. 

Yours faithfully 

Palma Hagan 

“ 


11

Norma 

Young 

Bangor 

“ 

My name is Norma Young, a recently retired 

employee of the Co-operative Group. 

During my working life within the Company, 

I attained many skills and experiences, in 

various aspects of the financial side of the 

business, mainly in accounting. 

Prior to retirement, I held the position of 

Regional Administrator for Northern Ireland, 

with responsibility for recovery/prevention 

of loss of Company assets, and liased with 

retail branches, loss prevention, and area 

Managers. 

In earlier days I worked for “Milk Group” as 

Administration Manager/Training Officer. This 

experience gave me access and knowledge 

of statistical and financial reports. 

For three years I attended Co-operative 

“Summer School” attaining certificates in all 

modules of co-operation, and as a founder 

member, attended the “Institute of Leadership 

and Management”, London. 

These qualifications, I feel , would be 

advantageous in assisting me in my duties 

should I be elected onto the Council. 

In my opinion it is essential that all members 

give their moral support to promote the Co-op 

Group within the Community at all times. This 

would entail encouraging younger members 

to avail themselves of all activities within the 

Company, creating “new and fresh ideas”. 

At present in Northern Ireland, Membership 

Teams are actively involved in promoting the 

Co-op Group, and I strongly support their 

endeavours. 

I trust you will give my application your 

favourable consideration. 

“ 

Shane 

Brogan 

Belfast 

“ 

This is my first time to stand for election 

in the Co-operative, however through my 

work in the students’ union movement and 

the community sector I think I could make a 

contribution to the Co-operative team. 

The economic climate and the International 

Year of Co-operatives provide a great basis to 

ensure increased awareness of the value of 

community based co-operatives and services. 

It also allows us to show the benefits of 

businesses based on ethics and managed in 

the interest of the society, rather than small 

groups of shareholders. 

I have served on the boards and councils 

of member-led organisations that work to 

deliver better communities for their members 

through active campaigning and challenging 

public perceptions. My experience also 

includes overseeing a variety of businesses 

that are run for the benefit of members. 

I currently work with local groups to build 

strong communities, which involves working 

with some of the most disadvantaged groups 

in our society. This has made me acutely 

aware of the need of the social changes that 

the Co-operative is working to achieve. 

“ 

The Co-operative also has a key role to play 

in ensuring increased engagement between 

young people and their communities, and 

as a young Co-operative member, this is 

something I would really like to support and 

develop.

Victoria 

Wilson 

Bangor 

Wendy 

Cooke 

Newtownstewart 

“ 

I am at present an employee of the Co-op 

and work as a Customer Sales Assistant at 

our Ballyholme store. My interest in the Coop 

is adopted through family connections in 

the movement, dating back 100 years. 

From an early age I helped with Promotional 

Sales, Membership and Fairtrade events in 

numerous stores. At present I am studying 

Sports Science and hope to gain my Degree 

in the forthcoming years. I have already 

achieved my Gym Instructors Certificate and 

also have qualified as a Personal Trainer. I 

have gained a position to help at the London 

Paralympics in August within the Equestrian 

Event. 

I believe in the Values and Principles of the 

Co-op Movement and find giving back to the 

customer through good service, and value 

a priority, especially through the Dividend 

Scheme, paid to Charitable Causes twice 

yearly. If elected I would bring new energies 

to all cross sections of the Community, 

bringing customer queries to Council 

meetings and were possible return with 

a reply. I would like to thank you for your 

consideration. 

Victoria Wilson 

“ 

“ 

Currently employed by the Co-Operative 

Group, as a Loss Prevention Manager and 

prior to this as a Food Store Manager. I have 

served 3 years as an elected member of the 

Northern Ireland Council, and 2 years on the 

values and principles committee. 

I have 16 years experience working in food 

retail gaining me excellent knowledge and 

skills including: 

• Accounts performance 

• Planning and Organising 

• Administration and Systems 

• Policy and procedures. 

In my role I engage on a daily basis 

with customers and our staff, actively 

communicating concerns and continually 

offering solutions, maintaining the integrity 

of the society. I actively work to promote 

the importance of membership within the 

business and communities and would 

welcome the opportunity to continue. 

I see an exciting future for the Co-Operative 

group particularly within Northern Ireland, 

with the implementation of new systems 

bringing us up to date ensuring excellent 

customer service, and improved profitability, 

while not compromising on our Ethical stance 

and our values & principles. 

“ 

We must continue to meet the needs of the 

Northern Ireland people and recognise these 

needs as being different within the business, 

supporting our local communities through 

local sourcing and development. I am keen 

for continued growth, during the current 

economic climate, developing a business 

both staff and customers are proud to be 

members. 


11

You can earn points across 

our family of businesses. 

Don’t forget, the more you spend the 

bigger your share of the profits will be! 

www.co-operative.coop/membership

2012 

Council elections 



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. 

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Northern Ireland - The Co-operative

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