Advertisement
News

Co-op launch fund to help foodbanks, funeral hardship and community causes

It’s the latest good deed that the retail giant has carried out after stocking The Big Issue last week

Co-op moved to help The Big Issue through the Covid-19 crisis last week and now they are turning their attention to foodbanks, funerals and communities in need.

The high-street giant began stocking The Big Issue magazine last week, joining Sainsbury’s and McColl’s as we temporarily switched to selling in shops while vendors are unable to sell on the streets.

Now Co-op have set up a Co-op Members’ Coronavirus Fund to allow their 4.6 million members to donate their unspent existing member rewards to good causes.

At the moment, that means more than £30m is available to be funnelled into the fund. It is accrued every time a Co-op member buys one of the firm’s own-brand products or services, sending a five per cent reward to their online wallet.

It is hoped that customers will donate these rewards to give foodbanks a boost as well as funding funerals for those in financial hardship and helping community groups alleviate the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on vulnerable people.

Co-op CEO Steve Murrells is also donating cash to the fund, giving 20 per cent of his salary over a three-month period.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“Millions of people are suffering financial hardship at the moment and so it felt right for me to offer to take this pay cut and directly support causes which are very important to me and close to my heart,” he said.

“One per cent of what our members spend already goes to local causes and now if they wish they can donate their five per cent personal rewards to help lessen the impact the emergency is having on millions of our fellow citizens.”

Last week the Co-op announced it had pulled its Easter TV advertising campaign, which was originally publicising its chocolate eggs, and donated the airtime – worth £2.5 million – to promoting the work of food bank charity FareShare.

They’re not the only food retailer doing good – Morrison’s are producing extra food and upping deliveries to get £10m of meals to foodbanks as Covid-19 drives demand and cuts down on volunteers.

And more and more high-street stockists are selling The Big Issue too. Get your copy from Sainsbury’s, McColl’s or Co-op or subscribe at bigissue.com/subscribe to support vendors while they are unable to sell the magazine on the streets.

Image: Sludge G/Flickr

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

Read All
Cash-strapped council warns it's at breaking point as neighbour places homeless people in its town
homeless peoples' tents in street
Homelessness

Cash-strapped council warns it's at breaking point as neighbour places homeless people in its town

Disabled people losing jobs and 'falling out of work' due to months-long waits for DWP support
disabled person working
Disability rights

Disabled people losing jobs and 'falling out of work' due to months-long waits for DWP support

Homeless families occupy council housing offices on Halloween in plea to fix 'houses of horror'
Homeless families at a protest about council housing
Homelessness

Homeless families occupy council housing offices on Halloween in plea to fix 'houses of horror'

'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say
woman in supermarket
Cost of living crisis

'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue