East of England Co-op to host cost-of-living advice session

The East of England Co-op’s expert guests will be offering advice and practical tips to anyone who is struggling with the increased cost-of-living during the latest instalment of its live magazine show, Your Co-op Live.

Taking place on Wednesday 29 June, the Supporting You Matters event will be broadcast live from Colchester Foodbank and will include advice on a range of topics, from affordable, healthy cooking, to advice on energy usage and bills.

Speakers will include representatives from Citizen Advice who will be offering advice on everything from debt management to housing, and Mike Beckett from Colchester Foodbank on the increasing use of food banks. Local chef Emma Crowhurst will also be delivering cooking demonstrations to help people reduce waste and make both food and money go further, as well as offering advice on how to fill your freezer to maximise space and save energy.

Your Co-op Live is just one of the East of England Co-op’s many initiatives to help make a difference in the community. The retailer supports 25 foodbanks across the region, as well as providing valuable funding to a number of charities and hyper-local projects through its Community Cares Fund. The Co-op is also part of the Healthy Start voucher scheme, and offers a top up on the Government’s donation of £4.25 to £5.00.

Supporting You Matters is one of a number of activities the East of England Co-op is taking part in during the national Co-op Fortnight event, which celebrates co-operatives across the UK. Organised by the group Co-operatives UK, the fortnight runs from 20 June to 3 July. This year’s theme is #UnwrapCoops and highlights the difference co-operatives make to people’s lives.

Lynn Warner, Community Engagement Manager at the East of England Co-op, said: “Co-op Fortnight is such an important time of the year for us and our fellow co-operatives. We are so proud of the work that we, and hundreds of other co-ops across the country, do in the local community and the positive impact we have on people’s lives, and to have it recognised and celebrated during Co-op Fortnight is wonderful.    

“We know that times are difficult for so many people in our region at the moment so we wanted to do something to support our members and local residents. At our upcoming Your Co-op Live event, attendees will be able to pick up helpful tips and advice on a variety of issues, as well as having the opportunity to ask questions in a non-judgemental, safe setting.”

On Tuesday 21 June, the East of England Co-op’s Funeral Services team will be attending Suffolk Remembers on Felixstowe Seafront Gardens, organised by St Elizabeth Hospice. They will be providing complimentary refreshments to attendees at the poignant event, which is an opportunity to remember and light a candle for lost loved ones.

Next week, from Monday 27 June to Friday 1 July, the East of England Co-op is sponsoring Norwich Pride’s Schools Week. The week is an opportunity for schools across Norfolk to join in the Norwich Pride celebrations during the school term. This month the retailer has also supported the Suffolk Pride and Colchester Pride events.