Pictured above: Nick Baker
Community retailer The Midcounties Co-operative has launched a
special awards scheme to celebrate its members and reward the
winners with a trip of a lifetime to Africa.
The Society wants to recognise those unsung heroes who, by their
community work or support for the environment or ethical trading,
embody the ideals of the Co-operative movement.
It is now seeking nominations for its inaugural Member of the
Year Awards with the winners to be announced at a special ceremony
on 7 July. They will receive an award and be treated to a
volunteering trip to Africa to join in a project working alongside
the community and experience amazing scenery, people and
culture.
Awards will be given for the Most Active Member of the Year,
Green Member of the Year, Community Member of the Year, Ethical
Member of the Year, Young Member of the Year and Colleague Member
of the Year. Judges will consider the entries in these categories
and also select an overall Member of the Year.
Di Bateman, Membership Manager, said: "We wouldn't be a
successful Co-operative without our members. We want to celebrate
and show our appreciation for those who take an active part in
their local Co-operative and who show by their actions that we can
make a positive difference to the local community and the wider
world by working together.
"I would urge any of our members who do their bit, whether by
engaging with our member events or being environmentally active,
helping community groups or promoting ethical trading, to enter our
awards. We know our members are exceptional and we want to let more
people know about it.
"And we have come up with a very special, once in a lifetime
prize to show how much they are valued."
Entry forms can be picked up in Midcounties food stores,
pharmacies, travel branches, funeral homes and childcare nurseries
in its trading heartlands of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire,
Buckinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, the West Midlands,
Wiltshire and Worcestershire, plus the surrounding
counties.
Alternatively information, entry forms and an explanatory video
can be found at www.yourmidcounties.coop/memberoftheyear
The campaign officially launches on 3 May 2011 and the deadline
for entries is 10 June 2011 and shortlisted entrants will be
notified by 20 June and will be invited to attend the ceremony on 7
July at Hogarths Hotel, Solihull, West Midlands.
Midcounties, the second largest independent co-operative in the
UK, has 245,000 active members who have used their membership card
in the last 12 months. It holds about 100 events for them
throughout the year. Members have a say in how the Society is run
and decide what percentage of profits are returned to the members
and to the local community.
Membership numbers breakdown -
Oxfordshire - 111,306
Black Country - 18,408
West Midlands - 2,930
Warwickshire - 5,290
Gloucestershire - 13,603
Buckinghamshire - 4,400
Shropshire - 1,745
Staffordshire - 12,209
Swindon - 5,396