Community Food in Wales

When the Welsh Assembly Government launched its new nutrition strategy it approached the Co-operative Group, as the UK's leading responsible retailer, to ask for its support.

The project has focussed on the provision of four local conferences across Wales designed to highlight the Welsh Assembly Government's nutritional policy and the potential of co-operative and mutual solutions to health issues. Although there were a number of topics covered during these conferences, one of the key considerations was the role of Food Co-operatives in local communities and the support that the Co-operative Group could give in areas such as management expertise, funding and other forms of practical help and support including the provision of shelving and shop fittings. The Society also made available its innovative Community Food Discount Card which allowed community groups to gain a 10% discount on almost all goods purchased in store. This facility has been particularly useful to schools and nutrition groups running breakfast clubs or "Get Cooking, Get Shopping" seminars, another Co-operative Group activity which assist local people in gaining a better understanding of nutrition, cooking and budgeting.

As a consequence of this initiative a large number of health workers, teachers, community workers and other interested professionals and community groups have also been supported by the Community Dividend scheme, the Co-operative Group's small grant initiative targeted at offering grants of between £100 and £5,000 to grass roots community and voluntary organisations. As a consequence of the success of the programme and of the strategic way that the Co-operative Group's various support mechanisms have worked together the Welsh Assembly Government has now agreed to provide substantial support for food co-operative workers across Wales, providing much needed assistance at grass roots level in the communities that are most in need of this support. The Co-operative Group's membership team also continue to be involved in the project offering support, help and advice where necessary.

The overall effect of this scheme has been to develop a strong strategic partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government and the Co-operative Group who have worked, and will continue to work, together to provide a real co-operative solution to this community challenge.

The Co-operative Group is working to highlight how important healthy eating is click the links below.
'Get Cooking, Get Shopping'       Encouraging Healthy Eating

To find out how the Co-operative Group can help your community group click here.

To read example of the many groups that have been benefited from this scheme click the links below or click the place name to visit that local community page within UKVillages.co.uk


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