Co-op Fortnight Day 10 – Supporting Local Communities

As a co-operative, each year we invest a share of our profits into the communities we serve. We also invite you, our wonderful colleagues, to give something back through our volunteering scheme. Each grant or hour spent in the community makes a difference, and when you put it all together the results really are amazing.

Why we support our communities

Concern for Community is one of the Co-operative Principles that all co-ops follow. At Midcounties, that feeds into our mission to create a better, fairer world and our DOES values.

Community action is at the heart of what we do as a co-operative, giving back through grants, volunteering and also by partnering with organisations to support their growth.

We are proud that Business in the Community has recognised our community work, awarding us their Community Mark and naming us as a Responsible Business Champion 2020.

Community support facts and figures

During the 2020/21 financial year we:

• Spent 27,000 hours volunteering in the community

• Donated £78,000 to our charity partners as part of the Community Restart Fund

• Gave £80,000 in grants to local community groups

• Raised £50,000 through the Foodbank Fund to keep our communities fed

• Co-ordinated over 100,000 home deliveries, bringing essentials to vulnerable members of our communities

Thank you to each and every one of our colleagues for making this happen, whether through donating, collecting money in branch, or giving your time to help others.

The impact this has

Gloucestershire Young Carers is just one of our Fundraising Partners. This is what our support means to them:

“We are incredibly grateful to Midcounties Co-op and the entire team from the Forest of Dean Regional Community for putting so much energy and effort into fundraising for us even in very tough circumstances. The money raised will enable us to continue to support young carers aged between 8-24 with 1-2-1 support, respite sessions where they can meet other young carers and enjoy fun activities, trips and residentials where they can take a break and support and advise in school or college.”

Sally Gillespie
Gloucestershire Young Carers (Forest of Dean Regional Community)

Take a look at how our support has helped some of our other Fundraising Partners here.

Each year colleagues can take up to 22.5 hours (pro rata) paid days to volunteer.If you’d like to get involved in volunteering or find out more about opportunities available, take a look at our dedicated volunteering page.