November 2017

local cause in their community. After three months,
the society gives the cause with the most tokens
£500, with a further £300 and £200 donated to
second and third place.
Additionally, Co-op Cuppa provides local causes
and communities with a regular supply of Co-op
Fairtrade 99 Tea. This year alone, it distributed
294,979 tea bags, fuelling 223 local good causes
and 44 events. The society also collects donations
of non-perishable food and toiletries in all of its
food stores for 22 food banks across the region,
including independent local food banks. This has
led to more than 80,000 meals being provided over
the past year, more than double the previous year.
Midcounties
Over £1.6m was distributed to communities in 2016,
with more than 500 community groups and good
causes receiving a share of over £390,000 given
through grants and carrier bag monies.
Through its 20 Regional Communities,
Midcounties is providing support and making
positive impacts in its communities. The
programme enables colleagues and members to
work together to identify relevant local community
opportunities and collectively take action to make
a positive difference in the community. In addition,
Midcounties has engaged with over 9,000 young
people through a range of initiatives working with
over 50 schools and higher education partners.
Over the last three years, the society has also
donated 104,000 products to foodbanks, providing
meals to over 2,000 families. Engagement in its
foodbank campaigns has increased year on year
with 10,000 products being donated by members,
customers and colleagues in 2014 and 70,000
products being donated in 2016. The society is now
supporting 40 foodbank groups.
Scotmid
During the year, the society’s Regional Committees
Scheme distributed over £110,000 of community
grants to community causes. The society says it
is committed to the promotion of Fairtrade and
organised a number of large events.
The society also broadened its support beyond
Fairtrade food items to the Fairtrade footballmaking
co-op, Bala Sports, teaming up as official
match ball partners to support the Homeless World
Cup, held in Glasgow in the summer of 2016.
At the end of August 2016, Scotmid completed
its one-year charity partnership with Alzheimer
Scotland and Alzheimer’s Society. It raised
the highest ever annual total of £375,000. Its
new charity partner Childline was launched in
September 2016, which has so far seen £136,000
raised by staff, customers and members.
Southern Co-op
Love Your Neighbourhood is the name of its
new community programme, which aims
to create greener, safer, healthier and more
inclusive communities.
It empowers stores, funeral homes and offices
to build their own neighbourhood network,
supporting issues that matter most locally.
Every site has its own budget to spend in their
neighbourhood and community groups are
encouraged to ask for support in a number of ways.
Colleagues choose their own local partner who
they want to raise funds for.
Love Your Neighbourhood is jointly funded by
the proceeds of the carrier bag levy and central
funding from Southern Co-op’s community funding
pot. This community funding pot is agreed by a
member vote at our AGM.
In 2016, funds raised encouraged young
people to be more active, through support for
swimming, badminton and football clubs;
helped healthy eating sessions run in schools;
supported community centre refurbishments in
isolated villages; helped fund low cost hot meals
for vulnerable people in a relaxed and social
environment and; so much more.
p Scotmid Co-operative
and Bala Sport announce
their partnership for the
Homeless World Cup
See the full
data online:
thenews.coop/impact
NOVEMBER 2017 | 31