Community Strategy workshop, Sam’s Summit Journey & Tea & Talk
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Published 6 Oct 2023 in Phil's blog
Community Strategy workshop
Over the past few years, we’ve held an Executive conference each November to review our 3 year strategic plans across the Society, and agree commercial, people, financial and Co-operative initiatives and targets for the coming year. The work for that is ongoing throughout the year, but clearly concentrates in the weeks beforehand. It’s essential that these plans reflect views from across the Society so that the proposals we take forward for Board approval are robust, and pragmatic. I was delighted to join a two-day session this week with colleagues from across the business looking at all aspects of our community strategy, and help develop our plans to ensure it reflects the needs of colleagues, members and the communities in which we trade.
It was really important that we were joined by site managers from Childcare, Travel and Food to do this – and I’d like to say thank you to Simon Thornley, Wendy Botterill and Katy Chetwynd for taking the time to join us and reflect the views of their trading group. We’re sharing some of that work with the Board and Member Engagement Committee on 18th October, and will keep you informed as to progress.
Executive volunteering visit at the Chippy Larder
As you may have read in my blog over the last few months, I have had the chance to visit many fantastic community groups and see first-hand how we support them. Well, this week some of the executive team and I used our volunteering hours to help at the Chippy Larder based in the Guildhall, Chipping Norton.
The Chippy Larder is an innovative concept in Community Larders, providing low-cost, high-quality food. Led by the enthusiastic Rizvana Poole, the shop provides produce donated by supermarkets and local farms - food that would otherwise go to waste.
Volunteering at the Chippy Larder with the Executive team (from left to right) – Pete Westall, Chief Values Officer, Sara Dunham, Chief Officer National Businesses and Rizvana Poole, The Chippy Larder
The organisation is the centre of the community and it’s great for us to show support towards these types of community organisations across our trading areas. Currently, we regularly donate towards the larder and in the past, our property team helped distribute a number of unused shelving that’s still in use today.
You will have read my update above on the community strategy workshop where we are looking to improve all aspects of our communities and the Chippy Larder is just one example of how we are doing good together whilst serving our members and communities.
So, I encourage you all to take advantage of the volunteering that’s available to you and take part in supporting our communities by continuing to do good together.
Global Innovation Co-op Summit – Sam’s journey
It was great to read all about Sam Webb’s experience at the Global Innovation Co-op Summit in Montreal this week. A worthy colleague winner, Sam (Store Manager at Lydney Petrol Station) was just one of the incredible colleagues we have hidden within Midcounties. So, it was reassuring to see his idea that’s aligned with our purpose to build a fairer, more sustainable and ethical future.
Sam Webb (left) was joined in Montreal by Michaela Cryar (Director of Younity, our Joint Venture with Octopus Energy) second left and Pete Westall, Chief Values Officer, third left. Here they are at a Rooftop Solar Co-op.
As a reminder, Sam’s brilliant idea was working with The Big Solar Co-op to help identify, design and implement Solar Photovoltaic (PV) opportunities across a selection of our trading sites, whilst exploring community ownership options to help finance this activity. You can watch the vlog from the trip by clicking here. Congratulations Sam!
Half Yearly Meeting – 18th October 6:30pm – 8:00pm
As we enter the last quarter of the year, our members have the chance to join our Half Yearly Meeting on 18th October taking place in the Warwick office and virtually online. An opportunity to have a say and ask a question; we’ll be discussing our half-year performance, how we’ve been doing good together through our communities and vote on key Society matters. To book your place click here.
Tea & Talk for World Mental Health Day – 10 October
You will have seen this week, that we are asking colleagues to come together and take a break for World Mental Health Day by holding a Tea & Talk session within your teams (w/c 9th of October). This is a great opportunity to take some time out with your colleagues and discuss topics that matter to you. Society-wide, we have already some useful resources from GroceryAid and Everymind webinars that are coming up over the month of October around mental health, so do watch out for further Society updates. You can find out more information about Tea & Talk by clicking here.
Count me in by doing good together – well done to our October winner
Finally, this week we announced the first count me in colleague competition winner, Sharon Maidment from Fairfood Food. Reading Sharon’s story really showcases how remarkable our colleagues are and as I mentioned last week, colleagues collectively help each other, our members & customers as well as our communities. So, it’s really rewarding to hear examples like this. I encourage you all to continue sharing your doing good together stories by scanning the QR code. Plus, if you do, you could win a £50 co-op voucher and £100 donation to a charity of your choice. Find out more and join in by clicking here. Well done Sharon!
Our October Count me in winner - Sharon Maidment from Fairfood Food
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