Women’s History Month at OurCoop
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Published 10 Mar 2026 in Colleagues
March marks Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience and impact of women. Read our update on our activities this month and get involved.
What’s Women’s History Month?
Women’s History Month happens every March – a time to recognise the achievements, resilience and impact of women. On 8th March International Women’s Day is also celebrated. Both give us the opportunity not only to celebrate progress but also reflect on how we can continue building a more equal and inclusive future together.
Why we’re celebrating Women’s History month?
This year’s Women’s History Month theme is ‘Leading the Change: Women shaping a sustainable future’. With OurCoop going through a significant period of change, this theme feels especially meaningful. Through March we want to create a space for connection, inspiration and practical support that helps all of us navigate changes with confidence. Our aims this year are …
- Strengthen connection and support across colleagues
- Share real, relatable stories that inspire
- Promote wellbeing
This isn’t just about celebrating women – it’s about learning from each other and creating space where everyone can thrive.
Women’s Voices: an inspirational day
This year’s Women’s Voices event felt particularly meaningful as it was the first since Central Co-op, Chelmsford Star and Midcounties Co-operative came together to create OurCoop.
The event created space for powerful reflection, honest conversation and shared learning. Through a range of personal stories and experiences, attendees were encouraged to think about how we support one another, speak up for what’s right and create environments where everyone feels safe, respected and heard.
A particularly moving session from Dame Jasvinder Sanghera CBE inspired many to reflect on the importance of courage, allyship and standing up for others, reminding us of the real impact we can have when we challenge injustice and support those around us.
Across the event, speakers left attendees with new perspectives, a deeper sense of empathy and a renewed motivation to advocate for positive change—both in the workplace and in society.
Read real stories from colleagues, sharing honest reflections of how they have navigated change, how they have found clarity when things feel uncertain, looked after their wellbeing and lead teams with compassion and authenticity.
Read our story from Leanne Green, Operations Manager in Early Years
After my 28 years as a Manager at the Reading nursery, I was encouraged to take on a secondment to support the Operations Team in a Regional Operations Manager (ROM) role. This was a completely new challenge for me, and I recognised early on that stepping outside of my comfort zone and embracing change was something I found difficult. With the right encouragement and support, I decided to give it a try—initially planned as a seven month assignment.
Moving away from my established team and getting to know a whole new group of nurseries was daunting. I was also nervous about travelling long distances, as confidence in driving had always been a personal barrier—not my capability to do the job itself. However, with consistent support from those around me, I grew into the role and genuinely enjoyed sharing my experience and knowledge with my new team.
As a leader, I strive to be supportive, approachable, and present for my teams. My background in managing a large nursery allowed me to guide others effectively and recognise the challenges they faced, whether related to new systems, recruitment, or the day to day realities of running a nursery. With historically low staff turnover, I have been able to offer valuable insight into colleague wellbeing and retention.
One ongoing area of development for me is looking after my own wellbeing and protecting my time. My line manager has been fantastic in regularly checking in with me, but even 18 months into the role, I am still learning how to manage my own time more effectively. What I have learned, though, is that it is absolutely okay to take a break—and that I do not need to be available 24/7.
Read our story from Jo Cardwell, Operations Director, FuneralCoop
I started at OurCoop back in 2015 as a Project Manager, and since then, I’ve had the opportunity to take on a variety of roles – from Funeral Regulatory Compliance Manager to my current role as Senior Funeral Plans Manager. Along the way, I’ve also worked in a range of mutual financial services businesses, including Wesleyan, Police Mutual and NFU Mutual. Each role, each business, has brought new challenges, and with that comes change – sometimes exciting, sometimes daunting. What I’ve learned is that the ability to adapt and stay focused on the people around you is what makes the difference.
Throughout my career, I’ve always tried to put colleagues at the heart of every decision. When the people doing the job feel supported and valued, it directly impacts the experience our customers have. This is especially true in Funeral Plans, where what a customer is buying isn’t just a product – it’s our promise that we will deliver a service when it matters most.
Our teams face challenging conversations every day, and I want them to know they have leaders who will listen, guide, and provide clarity when things feel uncertain. Leading with compassion means checking in with people, supporting their wellbeing, and helping them balance their own challenges while also looking out for others.
For me, leading the change isn’t just about navigating new roles or delivering results – it’s about shaping an environment where people can thrive, feel heard, and know that their contributions truly matter. That’s the kind of leadership I hope inspires others."
Don’t forget to visit our Wellbeing page on Colleagues connect should you need wellbeing support here.
Celebrate and recognise a colleague
Has a woman at OurCoop helped you grow in confidence, supported you through change or inspired you in some way? Take a moment to share a thank you or appreciation via our Thank You cards via your Colleagues Connect dashboard here (login required).
How can I get involved?
We’d love you to get involved as we know an inclusive culture is created through action. We know most of us are busy, so we’ve made it easy to get involved in ways that are quick, manageable and still meaningful. Whether you read a story, watch a webinar, share a thank you or simply take a moment to reflect, your participation helps to build a more supportive and connected OurCoop.