SEPTEMBER 2018

Food and farming
co-ops launch fresh
fundraising drives
Two fundraising initiatives have been
launched by co-ops in the organic food
and sustainable farming sectors.
Food-growing worker co-op OrganicLea,
in Waltham Forest, London, has launched
a crowdfunding campaign to raise money
for a new Woodland Classroom, where
locals can learn horticultural skills. The
co-op also provides training for people
with learning disabilities, and works
with volunteers who are long-term
unemployed, at risk of social isolation or
referred through mental health services.
On reaching its minimum target of
£25,000, OrganicLea will build a basic
weatherproof timber-frame structure.
The full target of £38,000 would see the
Woodland Classroom insulated and used
all year round, warmed by a wood burner
and connected to their solar panels.
Meanwhile, Stockwood Community
Benefit Society (CBS), owner of the
biodynamic Rush Farm in Worcestershire,
has launched £500,000 share offer.
Rush Farm, the UK’s only 100%
community-owned farm, opened up
to investors four years ago. Stockwood
says the farm offers significant social,
environmental and economic impacts
in the form of agricultural productivity,
rural employment, renewable energy
generation and wildlife habitat.
Stockwood now wants to scale up the
initiative across the UK and will hold a
conference next spring to meet potential
partners for similar projects.
The share offer pays a 5% return over
four years and the minimum investment
is £100.
u Donate to the OrganicLea campaign at
organiclea.org.uk.
u Stockwood shares are available through
Ethex and at stockwoodcbs.org.
Southern Co-op clears the coast for Co-ops Fortnight
Volunteers from the Southern Coop
braved the heatwave to clean five
beaches during Co-operatives Fortnight
– picking up nearly 23kg of litter, 20 bags
of rubbish and a bucketful of glass. The
retailer says the campaign was a success
and plans an additional beach clean later
in the year. More information about the
Southern Co-op’s campaign to secure a
sustainable future at: s.coop/2aht8
Central England Co-op raises £780k for Dementia UK
Central England Co-operative has raised
more than £780,000 for Dementia
UK in just one year – and announced
its continued support for the charity.
Colleagues, members and customers at the
society have been supporting Dementia
UK for the past 12 months. The year has
seen people from 16 counties undertake
feats of endurance and village fetes.
Midcounties Co-op colleagues charity football match
Employees from Midcounties Co-op are to
take to the pitch against TV soap stars in
a charity football match in Walsall. The
match, at Rushall Olympic FC, will see the
co-op line up against soap stars including
Ashley Taylor-Dawson (Darren Osborne)
and Jacob Roberts (Damon Kinsella)
from Hollyoaks, and Alan Halsall (Tyrone
Dobbs) from Coronation Street.
Birthday bash for Bradford District Credit Union
Bradford District Credit Union celebrated
its 25th anniversary with an event at
Bradford’s City Hall. The credit union was
set up for council staff before becoming
independent and opening its services to
anyone in the district. Membership stands
at 6,500 with 50% of members saving
directly through payroll deduction.
A lift for air ambulance from Lakes and Dales Co-op
Lakes and Dales Co-op has donated funds
from the carrier bag levy to the Great
North Air Ambulance. The business, part
of Scotmid Co-op, runs nine stores in
Cumbria and the north-east of England.
The funding will be used for thermal
blankets, cold boxes to carry blood, and
the service of flight helmets.
SEPTEMBER 2018 | 11