We’ve been to you & you & you & you this November

Thousands of you popped along to our pop-up cafés in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London and over 100 events in communities around the UK, as we brought Co-op, our difference and all the ways you can play your part as a Co-op Member to life.

Colleagues and local groups also got the chance to thank members for choosing to support their community projects at events more locally, as we celebrated sharing more than £58 million with over 20,500 local causes through the Local Community Fund since 2020.

You popped in to see us!

Members were treated to free Fairtrade hot drinks and cakes at our family and dog-friendly pop-up café experiences in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London. They were able to make their voices count in our games and activities around how they want to be rewarded as owners and their favourite festive meal deals, and had the chance to take home some goodies too, like Co-op Live gig tickets.

In Edinburgh, an empty unit in St James Quarter was transformed into our first-ever pop-up Co-op Café on 15 November.

“We opened the doors at 9:30am and the buzz didn’t stop until we closed at 4:30pm. Nearly 400 people came in for free coffee and cake and stayed for a fantastic experience of how we can do right by you, because we’re owned by you,” says Jess Clarke, Democratic Services & Engagement Manager.

The café attracted a great mix of members who registered to attend as well as those passing by, including people who were completely new to Co-op and signed up as members at the café.

“One lucky new member-owner even won 1 of 6 pairs of Co-op Live tickets whilst completing our sticker wall activity with a local Council Member!

As Scotmid Co-op has stores in Edinburgh too, we took the opportunity to showcase the fact that when you join a co-op, you also join a movement. It was great to have members of the Scotmid Board with us to help raise awareness of how we work together and how co-ops are supporting Edinburgh communities,” says Jess.

Ivan Brosnan, from Co-op’s Young Members’ Group, was delighted to see so many people engaging with what the Co-op Movement stands for on his visit to the London Co-op Café.

“We were able to have some insightful conversations with member-owners, both established and new, ensuring that we continue to be responsive as a business to the wishes of our member-owners,” he says.

“Shoreditch’s grey, rainy high street was just that little bit brighter that Saturday, with free coffee and good music offering some respite from the rain.”

You celebrated with us!

With over 100 local events held across the UK, our team of Member Activators brought communities together in stores, funeral homes and community venues as part of our celebrations from 20-23 November.

At the events, members met with colleagues and representatives from some of the local causes they’ve been supporting, enjoyed taste testing Co-op products and helped us shape how we reward our Co-op Members in the future.

Below are just a few of our highlights.

Organised by Jo Green, Member Activator for Birmingham and the South East, members, colleagues and our National Members’ Council’s, David Hallam and John Boyle, joined local causes for a fabulous community celebration at our Nuneaton store.

Current local cause and co-operative, The Tech, hosted Holmfirth’s celebration event. Co-op Members joined Member Activator, Rachel Mallon, and local causes Fairandfunky, Holme Valley Climate Action Partnership, Almondbury Scouts, Friends of Honley and Eden’s Forest to celebrate and share ideas on Co-op membership.

A fantastic celebration event took place at Seven Dials Funeralcare in Brighton & Hove. Members joined Member Activator, Alison Lainchbury, as representatives from local causes all made brilliant connections and celebrated the Local Community Fund together. Some invaluable plans were made to co-operate on Youth Mentoring, sharing of facilities and several food banks shared best practice and agreed to support each other.

Donna Aburrow, Member Activator for Hampshire, joined the Blackfield community at their weekly Community Cook-Up, a vital initiative led by local cause New Forest Aquaponics. The event also served as a celebration of our Co-op Members for supporting their community.

Co-op Members joined Katherine Skinner, Member Activator for Argyll and Bute, and local causes, 19th Argyll Scouts and Ardrishaig KGV Community Field, for a community celebration event in Lochgilphead. Both groups gave presentations to members about how they were planning to spend their funding. Supported by store manager Brian Freeman, members taste-tested Christmas cheeses, festive crisps and sweet treats too!

To find out more about our Co-op Cafes and what members thought of them, watch our short video clip.

You joined in at home!

Co-op Members who were unable to attend a café or a local event could make their voices count by joining in the conversations online. More than 75,000 of you got involved in shaping our Christmas meal deals and to tell us how you would like to be rewarded as an owner this month. There are always opportunities for Co-op Members to get involved with their Co-op. Find out what’s available now by joining in on your online Membership account