Membership and Community Councils reports
Posted by rob smyth | Published: 08/10/2019
Combined MCC Report
Our Membership and Community Councils (MCC) play a vital role in our Society and support our work to increase our membership, grow engagement and forge stronger links across the community.
They, alongside our Member and Community Relations Officers, help support everything from Member Groups to specialist workshops on healthy eating and Fairtrade all year round.
Here are some of our highlights from the past 12 months in the Eastern region:
Health and Wellbeing:
We delivered Healthy Choices workshops to 1,700 children across the Eastern region, worked with a range of different local care providers to organise vital health days and also supported workshops based around educating people about dementia.
Encouraging Member Participation:
We have doubled the Member Groups in the region, welcoming arts, lace making, badminton and friendship groups to the fold.
We have also supported various events such as Strumpshaw Steam Rally, Mulbarton Festival, Wells Carnival and Market Deeping Raft Race.
Education, Culture and Recreation:
We supported a range of events this year including the Eye Sheep Trail and National Breakfast Week alongside our partnership with East of England Showground continuing to grow.
Environment and Food Poverty:
Colleagues from across the business joined forces with our MCC during Co‑operatives Fortnight for an act of ‘Mass Co-operation’ in the form of a litter pick on the north Norfolk coast.
The Eastern MCC also supported a two course Christmas meal for the homeless and vulnerable people in Norwich.
Engaging Young People:
We delivered a range of different projects for young people including our Co-operative masterclass, interview technique sessions and even supported Peterborough Regional College students with a walk to raise funds for a local good cause.
Here are some of our highlights from the past 12 months in the Northern region:
Health and Wellbeing:
Our Northern MCC has enjoyed delivering workshops around Healthy Choices, Fairtrade and dementia. We have also supported several health days offering health MOTs to customers and Members.
Encouraging Member Participation:
We have supported a range of events to showcase the difference that a Co‑operative business brings including Co-operative Fortnight, our traditional Senior Members’ Gathering and everything from carnivals to festivals near to where our family of businesses trade.
Education, Culture and Recreation:
Member Groups form a key part of our work and they provide an essential network for Members to learn a new skill and supports mental and physical wellbeing. Some of the groups supported during the past 12 months include keep fit, Tai Chi, dance, craft, history, a painting group, women’s groups, afternoon groups and a friendship group.
Environment and Food Poverty:
We have continued to deliver our Fairtrade Workshops and Ethical Challenges across the area as well as working with fairandfunky in Yorkshire to deliver several workshops on plastics and developed a workbook for children to take home.
Engaging Young People:
We continue to engage and develop appropriate programmes to engage with young people including a successful intergenerational event with our new store in Ashbourne and Hilltop School. Children and residents prepared food together and shared songs and knowledge.
Here are some of our highlights from the past 12 months in the Southern region:
Health and Wellbeing:
We hosted the Joining the Generations conference with Little Stars Nursery in Melton Mowbray to highlight the benefits of intergenerational play for both young and old based on their partnership with Gretton Court Care Home. We also supported several schools and organisations by delivering Healthy Choices Workshops.
Encouraging Member Participation:
We supported dozens of events during the past 12 months including carnivals, community days and fairs. The Southern MCC also enjoyed backing the Raunds Festival of Transport for the first time and continuing to support the Riverside Festival in Leicester.
Education, Culture and Recreation:
We were delighted to offer 16 educational and recreational courses, 19 Member Groups and welcomed an additional Floristry Group in Fleckney and Whetstone Drama Group into the fold. We were also pleased to help Ratae Co-operative Players celebrate their 70th anniversary.
Environment and Food Poverty:
We continue to support Eco Schools across Leicester and worked with Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust to help people with learning difficulties and disabilities enjoy the great outdoors with a secret garden project. Our MCC ambassadors also delivered Fairtrade Workshops and Ethical Challenges across the region.
Engaging Young People:
The Co-operative Masterclass was once again delivered to over 100 young people who have signed up the National Citizen Scheme during Co-operatives Fortnight.
Here are some of our highlights from the past 12 months in the Western region:
Health and Wellbeing:
The Western MCC once again supported the Lichfield Community Games, where over 6,000 people attended, by delivering a mini Healthy Choices Workshops as well as giving the young people the opportunity to make their own fruit kebab, with over 600 made during the weekend event.
Encouraging Member Participation:
We welcomed our newest Member group, Great Barr Musical Theatre Co‑operative (GBMTC), this year. The group meet at our Co-op rooms in Great Barr and welcome all members of the community to take part in musical theatre.
Education, Culture and Recreation:
We continue to support our Member groups, which offer a wide variety of activity for our Members including dance, Co-op history, craft, gardening and film.
Environment and Food Poverty:
In January we supported the Triathlon Trust with their first Holiday Hunger camps in inner city Birmingham. Over 200 young people took part with the Western MCC delivering our Healthy Choices Workshops and Lunchbox Challenge.
Engaging Young People:
We have continued to support young people with educational activity via our Healthy Choices Workshops, Ethical Challenges and Fairtrade Workshops, with over 2,000 young people taking part this year.
Our MCC ambassadors continue to support the above work in our communities but also work with our family of businesses to promote membership and community activity in our region. We are always looking for more Members to join the MCC. If you feel you could support your local community please get in touch using the contact details provided.
We would also like to ask any group or school who think they may benefit from our support or the delivering of our workshops or challenges to get in touch using the information provided.