Keeping it green – ethical retailer supports local sustainable charity
Posted by lauryn mellor | Published: 08/04/2024
Ethical retailer, Central Co-op has donated £1,250 to a local action group that encourages communities in Hertfordshire to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. The donation was made to Sustainable Sawbridgeworth as part of Central Co-op’s renowned Community Dividend Fund.
Sustainable Sawbridgeworth works with local businesses, schools and community groups in Hertfordshire to promote improvements to the environment and sustainable living practices – from providing recycling information to campaigning against single-use plastics.
Central Co-op’s funding will go towards the running of the group and will cover the costs of bi-monthly stalls and posters for several sustainability initiatives, such as Tidy Up Sawbridgeworth and Sawbridgeworth Repair Cafe. It will also enable the organisation to pay for hall hire for the group’s new Sawbo Sales initiative, aimed at locals and families wishing to buy or sell second-hand clothes.
Every year, Central Co-op – which has a store on London Road, in Sawbridgeworth – invests a percentage of its trading profit into local community projects, nominated by Members, to support the communities it operates within.
Corinne Lewis from Sustainable Sawbridgeworth, said: “Since we launched in 2020, our focus has always been to promote improvements to the environment locally through initiatives that benefit the community – from second-hand clothes fairs to repair cafes in a bid to campaign against overconsumption. We’d like to say a big thank you to the Central Co-op team; the funds will go a long way in promoting our activity and supporting even more people.”
Andrew Seddon, Society Secretary at Central Co-op, said: “We’re pleased to be able to support local organisations such as Sustainable Sawbridgeworth as part of our Community Dividend Fund.
“Investing in and supporting the communities we operate within remains a priority as a co-operative, and the Community Dividend Fund is just one way that we do this. We couldn’t be prouder to support a grassroots initiative which promotes a more sustainable way of living, and we truly felt that Sustainable Sawbridgeworth’s mission aligned with our own values and environmental commitments.
“We are only able to make these donations thanks to people supporting their local Central Co-op stores and funeral homes, so I’d like to share a big thank you to those that help to make the fund happen.”
To find out more about Central Co-op’s initiatives, head to centralcoop.co.uk/ or visit Central Co-op socials media channels. Details on becoming a Member can be found at membership.centralengland.coop/.
ENDS
For press information
Press Office
pressoffice@centralcoop.co.uk
Lauryn Mellor, PR and Media Specialist at Central Co-op
lauryn.mellor@centralcoop.co.uk
07385 048004