The East of England Co-op’s Local Giving initiative, launched in summer 2024, has raised more than £130,000 for regional charities and community groups across East Anglia, including Essex and Suffolk. The scheme empowers the co-op’s 3,000+ colleagues to select and raise funds for causes that matter most in their own communities. Angela Carpenter, community support lead at the East of England Co-op, said: "At the heart of East of England Co-op is a commitment to making a positive local impact, not just through funding, but by being an active part of the communities we serve." Last summer at the Parkfields East of England Co-op in Halstead, Essex, colleagues organised a series of wacky dress-up days and raised over £800. Damian Johnson, branch manager at Hadleigh, said: "I think it’s really important for our co-op to support our local community because we are the grassroots of East Anglia, we are the local community, we’re entrenched in it."

Source: The Star February 25, 2026 15:02 UTC