// Central England Co-op to invest over £350,000 on a new project to create sustainable spaces
// It is teaming up with charity Groundwork to create a range of different spaces on land around its stores
// These could range from orchards and allotments to play areas or educational spaces, or recycling facilities
Central England Co-op is set to invest over £350,000 on a new project that aims to create sustainable spaces.
The company, which has over 400 grocery stores and funeral homes across 16 counties in England, said it was teaming up with charity Groundwork to create a range of spaces on the land around its own premises.
The project will be funded by Central England Co-op’s carrier bag levy fund.
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The company said the types of sustainable spaces that could be created range from orchards and allotments to play areas or educational spaces, or supporting sustainable transport or recycling facilities.
Central England Co-op said the locations chosen for the investment would be revealed later this summer as well as the details of how people can get involved.
“We are really thrilled to be working with Groundwork on these exciting plans to provide truly transformative spaces for the benefit of the communities we serve,” Central England Co-op corporate responsibility manager Hannah Gallimore said.
“At Central England Co-op we are committed to working with our communities to create a sustainable society for all and have been looking at ways in which we can utilise some of the space we already have around our food stores and funeral homes to bring extra benefits to those areas and the people who live and work there.
“We know from the work we have already done with Groundwork on smaller projects that they are the perfect partner for this ambitious scheme and share a lot of our beliefs and principles around co-operation, education and community.
“Now we have this agreement in place we can begin to identify potential sites across our trading area and talk to those communities about what they would like to see in those areas and what will provide the most benefits to them.”
Groundwork UK chief executive Graham Duxbury said: “We’re delighted to be working with Central England Co-op on this exciting partnership.
“In our experience, good quality green spaces are critical to how our neighbourhoods’ function and can act as inspirational places for learning, playing, meeting friends or exercising.
“We look forward to working with Central England Co-op and local community groups to create sustainable spaces that everyone can enjoy.”
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