impact_index_web

Community Impact Index – supported by The Midcounties Co-operative
Case study: Dementia-friendly retail at East of England
Minnie Moll, joint chief executive at East of England Co-operative
on how the society is making things easier for people living – and
caring for those – with dementia.
As a community retailer it’s important that we support local people
to retain their independence and feel part of their community for as
long as possible, and that our colleagues feel able to provide them
with support and assistance when they need it.
In our region alone over 50,000 people are living with dementia, a
figure that is set to rise considerably by 2030, so in 2014, we made a
pledge to become the leading Dementia Friendly Retailer in Norfolk,
Suffolk and Essex.
To be a true dementia friendly business we needed every colleague
across the business to connect with our vision rationally and
emotionally. Our primary objective was to provide our colleagues
with the knowledge and skills that would make them feel more
confident and able to support their customers.
Working with experts in the field of dementia, such as the
Alzheimer’s Society, Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance and
University of Suffolk, we created four bespoke training programmes
for our colleagues. To enhance their learning experience we included
case studies gathered from our colleagues and customers who are
affected by dementia.
Over 87% of our 4,500 colleagues have voluntarily completed the
training to date and are registered dementia friends. We’ve received
fantastic feedback from our colleagues who’ve benefited from the
training both at work and home, as well as relatives and carers of
customers living with dementia who have seen a change in the way
our colleagues approach them.
In true co-operative spirit, we’re now offering our e-learning and
face-to-face training to other businesses and community groups,
encouraging them to take their first steps to becoming dementia
friendly.
We’ve also made a commitment to provide more support for
colleagues as carers, and are looking at ways to adapt the physical
environment of our stores to make it easier for people living with
dementia, their carers and families to continue to shop with us.
Case study: Strategic community investment at Central England
Putting community at the heart of business policy
Central England Co-operative was named Leading Co-operative of
the Year in June, partly due to its work with local communities.
President Maria Lee said: “Supporting good causes, local groups
and community events across Central England remains at the
heart of what we do as a co-operative business. We updated our
Membership and Community Strategy at the start of 2016 to help
grow our engagement and impact in this key area.”
A joint working group, comprising Board members, representatives
from the Membership & Community Councils, and senior managers,
develops and oversees the strategy.
Central England’s commitment to the community is also
embedded in the society’s wider Corporate Responsibility Policy.
The policy adheres to BITC’s CR Index framework, which sets
out four broad management areas: Community, Environment,
Marketplace and Workplace. Within the Community section, Central
England focuses on four key issues: Remove barriers to work; focus
on deprived communities; social equity & cohesion; engage with
the NEET’s* agenda.
“As part of our Corporate Responsibility strategy, we launched
a colleague volunteering scheme to enable all employees to
participate in up to three volunteering days per year,” said Martyn
Cheatle, chief executive.
Central England’s Community Dividend sees the society give
back 1% of trading profit in community grants. The scheme has
been running for six years and so far donated more than £1m. Other
initiatives include fundraising with long-term charity partners,
which colleagues help to choose. The society’s partnership with the
Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children has been running for four
years, and has raised more than £1.2m. Central England’s SENse to
Aspire scheme aims to help remove barriers to work for students
with special educational needs by supporting them to gain the
skills they need to find employment.
The scheme includes workshops and
in-store work experience.
The society is committed to working
with the wider co-operative movement
and takes part in initiatives such as
the Big Co-op Clean.
Martyn Cheatle said: “As an
inclusive and progressive society
our vision is to be the UK’s best cooperative
by making a real difference
to our members and communities.”
(*16–24 year olds Not in Education,
Employment or Training)
Maria Lee, president,
Central England
15 November 2016 Co-operative News 33