Colleague News: Debbie's Message & Fairtrade Fortnight
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Published 22 Sep 2026 in Colleagues
From championing OurCoop on the national stage to celebrating over 30 years of Fairtrade, there's plenty happening this week. Read Debbie's latest update, get involved in Fairtrade Fortnight activities, explore our new Growth Mindset workshop, and help us celebrate Black History Month by sharing your story.
Championing OurCoop - Debbie's Update
Hello there everyone,
I hope you and your families are keeping safe and well.
Last Tuesday, we held our monthly Leadership briefing at the OurCoop Support Centre in Lichfield. We welcomed Matt Heslop, our new Chief Officer – Food and enjoyed a wonderful Marketplace showcasing our family of businesses.
Next week, I will be attending the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on behalf of OurCoop, taking part in conversations about issues that matter to our family of co-operative businesses and the Members, colleagues and communities we serve.
On Sunday, I will join a panel hosted by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), exploring how retailers, local authorities, enforcement agencies and Government can work together to tackle rogue traders and organised crime operating through high street businesses.
I’ll share the perspective of a family of co-operative businesses serving communities across the country, highlighting how rogue businesses create unfair competition, undermine confidence in local high streets and can make colleagues and customers feel less safe. The panel will also consider the need for properly resourced enforcement, effective information sharing and coordinated local and national action.
Across the three days, I will also take part in roundtable discussions and meet representatives from business and Government, helping to ensure OurCoop’s voice is heard.
Engaging with policymakers across the political spectrum is an important part of representing our Society’s interests. It enables us to share our experience, contribute to the development of future policy and champion the role co-operative businesses play in building stronger local economies.
Before then, I’m looking forward to supporting our team at the Retail Industry Awards in London this evening. OurCoop is a finalist in both the Best Use of Technology and Community Retailer of the Year categories and I wish everyone attending the very best of luck.
I look forward to sharing more with you following the conference. In the meantime, have a great week.
Debbie
Over 30 Years Supporting Fairtrade: Fairtrade Fortnight Begins
Fairtrade Fortnight is back! Join us from 21 September to 4 October as we celebrate over 30 years of supporting Fairtrade. Discover how your everyday choices help improve lives around the world, take part in colleague events, enter our Fairbuds competition, and learn more about the impact of our Malawi Partnership and Fairtrade products across OurCoop. 🌍💚
Improving lives through every choice you make - 21 September to 4 October 2026
This Fairtrade Fortnight, we're celebrating the difference that responsible, ethical trade makes to communities around the world and the role each of us can play in creating positive change.
For more than 30 years, OurCoop has proudly supported Fairtrade, helping to ensure farmers and workers receive a fair deal for the products they grow and produce. Through the power of co-operation, we're improving lives across global communities while bringing high-quality products to our members and customers every day.
Don't miss our Fairtrade timeline video, showcasing three decades of OurCoop's commitment to Fairtrade and the impact we've made together.
Join us during Fairtrade Fortnight
There are plenty of ways to get involved and learn more about how Fairtrade continues to improve lives around the world.
Fairtrade Social Marketplace Events
Join us at our Support Centre events where colleagues can come together to celebrate all things Fairtrade.
Lichfield Support Centre 📅 Wednesday 23 September 🕚 11.30am to 2.00pm
Leamington Support Centre 📅 Wednesday 30 September 🕚 11.30am to 2.00pm
You'll be able to enjoy:
- Fairtrade tea and coffee tastings, including products from our Malawi Partnership
- A celebratory Fairtrade cake and photo opportunity
- Colleague bakes made using Fairtrade ingredients, plus recipe sharing
- Stands showcasing Fairtrade products and initiatives across our businesses
- Spin the wheel for the chance to win Fairtrade prizes
- Our Fairtrade pledge wall, where you can share your commitment to supporting Fairtrade
Just pop in and say hello!
Member Events
Our members can also join special online events to hear first-hand about the impact of Fairtrade.
24 September Hear how our Malawi Partnership is making a difference and improving lives through the products members and customers choose.
30 September Discover how Fairphone creates products that are built to last while caring for both people and the planet.
Win a Pair of Fairbuds!
We're giving colleagues the chance to win a pair of Fairbuds.
Simply take part in our Fairtrade quiz between 22 September and 4 October to be entered into the prize draw.
Terms and conditions apply.
Improving Lives Through the Choices You Make
Every Fairtrade purchase helps support farming communities across the world.
Whether you're choosing Fairtrade tea, coffee, chocolate, bananas, flowers or wine, you're helping to ensure farmers receive a fair price for their products and can invest in their futures.
Fairtrade's impact can also be seen across our family of businesses, from the Fairphones we sell, to responsible sourcing in our Funeral business, and our commitment to supporting local communities through Travel.
Improving Lives in Malawi
One of the most powerful examples of Fairtrade in action is our Malawi Partnership.
Built on co-operative values and long-term relationships, the partnership supports farmers and producers through fair, sustainable trading opportunities.
This year, we reached a major milestone by helping to establish a Regional Honey Cooperative Union in Mzuzu, Malawi, strengthening local markets and creating new opportunities for honey producers.
We're also exploring exciting opportunities for future Malawi-produced products, including macadamia oil, honey and chocolate, creating even more ways for members and customers to support farming communities.
Fairtrade: Out and About!
Throughout Fairtrade Fortnight, colleagues will be hosting activities across our sites and communities, including tastings, quizzes, workshops and awareness sessions.
If you'd like to find out more, email member.community@centralcoop.co.uk.
As we celebrate over 30 years of supporting Fairtrade, thank you for the part you play in helping to improve lives through the choices you make every day.
Remember, whatever you do, Do it Fair! 🌍💚
New lunch and learn workshop for Developing a Growth Mindset!
As we continue to navigate change across roles, teams, systems and ways of working, having the right mindset can make a real difference to how we adapt and grow.
Our new Growth Mindset workshop (60 minutes) explores how to:
✅ Build confidence and resilience
✅ Learn from setbacks and challenges
✅ Develop a positive approach to learning and development
✅ Strengthen adaptability and seeing opportunities in challenges
How we respond to challenges shapes how we grow.
Whether you're looking to support your own development or help your team thrive through change, this practical session is available for all colleagues and offers valuable tools and insights to help you develop a Growth Mindset.
Book your place today via iLearn here.
Colleague Survey reminder
Our latest colleague survey opened last week on 16 September and is open until 30 September.
This is your opportunity to tell us what you think, share your experience and help shape what we do next.
It only takes a few minutes, so if you haven’t completed it yet, please take the time to have your say here.
Black History Month 2026: Honouring Our Communities
Black History Month is just around the corner, and this year’s theme is “Honouring Our Communities.”
As a community co-operative, this is a great opportunity to celebrate the people, stories and communities that shape who we are - and to hear from our Black colleagues about their experiences, heritage and what community means to them.
We’d love to hear your story. If you’d like to share something as part of our Black History Month activity, or have an idea for us to feature, please get in touch at diversityandinclusion@midcounties.coop. Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
The theme also gives us a chance to showcase the work OurCoop does with and alongside Black communities. If you know of a relevant project, partnership, volunteering activity or community initiative, we’d love to hear about it.
Find out more about the 2026 theme here.
