How The Co-operative Funeralcare is going the extra mile to support communities in the Portsmouth area

With the need to support local charities becoming a firm focus in 2020, one local company is sticking to its roots and values by supporting in more ways than ever.
Community & Campaigns Co-ordinator Holly BrambleCommunity & Campaigns Co-ordinator Holly Bramble
Community & Campaigns Co-ordinator Holly Bramble

The Co-operative Funeralcare, owned by Southern Co-op, is one business going the extra mile in its efforts to support people in its local communities.

Community investment is a huge part of Southern Co-op’s business and it has even won awards recognising its efforts, most recently the Business Charity Award 2020 (third sector).

Every year there is a huge effort to ensure people are supported and money is raised to help people in need in Southern Co-op’s local communities, with community investment initiatives needed more than ever this year.

Southern Co-op runs a Love Your Neighbourhood programmeSouthern Co-op runs a Love Your Neighbourhood programme
Southern Co-op runs a Love Your Neighbourhood programme

One aspect of investing in the local area is Southern Co-op’s Love Your Neighbourhood programme which has been running for four years.

There are four key themes in the programme - creating safer, greener, more inclusive and healthier neighbourhoods.

Together with local communities, the aim is to build a culture of neighbourliness which will enable connections to grow and encourage participation so that everyone can feel safe, healthy and happy in the places and spaces where we live and work.

Community projects

One of the hampers donated by The Co-operative Funeralcare for a local raffleOne of the hampers donated by The Co-operative Funeralcare for a local raffle
One of the hampers donated by The Co-operative Funeralcare for a local raffle

Southern Co-op encourages colleagues, members and customers to find community projects in their local area and get involved with great causes, from supporting those who are homeless to helping to build green spaces – it enables everyone to help their own neighbourhoods in a positive way.

‘I help to run and support our community investment,’ Holly Bramble, Community & Campaigns Co-ordinator said.

‘Everything that we do is based on building safer and healthier neighbourhoods. Whether it’s one of The Co-operative Funeralcare homes, our crematorium The Oaks, or one of our retail stores - they will all be involved in one of our Love Your Neighbourhood programmes.’

Fundraising initiatives

The Co-operative FuneralcareThe Co-operative Funeralcare
The Co-operative Funeralcare

Holly explained: ‘Our colleagues in our Co-operative Funeralcare branches often donate food to local lunch clubs, breakfast clubs in schools and offer prizes for raffles at local fairs. They have come up with lots of initiatives from car washing to sunscreen donations to knitting - small efforts which have a big impact to those benefitting from them.

‘We recently had a Funeralcare colleague who donated £50 to the local council, which paid for some material for a group of local crafters who made limited edition poppy-themed face coverings. All of them sold quickly, raising over £2,500 for The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. How incredible is that?

‘We also carry out local fundraising activity. Some groups might need a little bit of help to keep going such as paying for rent on the community hall that they are using.’

Going that little bit further

The Co-operative Funeralcare colleagues will often go that little bit further. For example, if a local group is asking for tea and coffee donations for a local event, teams will often include some biscuits and cake as well.

Holly added: ‘Our colleagues always go that little bit further, which is really valuable to the community they are supporting.’

Sometimes colleagues volunteer to go and help out to support events as well.

Now, with the festive season approaching, Southern Co-op is working hard to ensure that people struggling in the local community get the support that they need.

‘This time of year, a lot of people struggle,’ Holly said.

Feed A Family Fund

Holly added: ‘What we have found is that there are families out there that, even if they are working, aren’t necessarily earning enough to keep their family fed or they earn enough but don’t qualify for support or benefits.’

Now, Southern Co-op has launched the Feed A Family Fund to support those in need this Christmas. It will run until the end of January.

It allows food banks to apply for a £200 micro grant which they can use however they choose to keep their services running, whether that’s buying a new fridge or helping to fund fuel costs for their volunteers who are out and about delivering food parcels.

Donate up to Christmas

Members, customers and colleagues are being asked to donate to the fund to help build up the help available and Southern Co-op has kicked things off with £5,000.

‘What we have found is that Christmas is naturally a time of giving,’ Holly added.

‘But as soon as it gets to January the donations really tail off. So we are allowing people to donate up until December 24, which will mean charities can benefit from the funding into the harsh winter months of January and February. It builds up food parcels for families early into the new year.

‘People do need that support as we get early into the new year as well.’

The regional, independent co-operative is also getting involved in a reverse advent calendar where people are encouraged to donate an item in the build-up to Christmas.

Holly added that running campaigns such as this are hugely important to the business and what it represents in its communities.

‘Our communities are vital to us,’ she said.

‘Our hearts and minds are focused on our communities; it is what being a co-operative is all about. We wouldn’t be who we are otherwise. The more we can give back to our communities, the better.’

To donate to the Feed A Family fund, visit www.neighbourly.com/FeedAFamilyFund. To find out more about The Co-operative Funeralcare,

Related topics: