The East of England Co-operative Society, well known for its strong commitment to ethical trading, developed a new resource pack for primary schools entitled ‘More than just a shop’ earlier this year.

This new resource pack, launched in March 2009, is designed to support the primary curriculum.  It not only looks at how the business works by focussing on how a shop operates and the ethical issues of Fairtrade, local sourcing and climate control, but also looks at the values that underpin all that the East of England Co-op does across its trading area.

The pack provides a meaningful and practical tool enabling teachers and young people to explore ethical issues in the context of 21st Century retailing. 

Around 65 schools across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have already used this new resource to learn more about their local Co-operative Society, ethical trading and co-operation in general.

To help other schools and organisations benefit from this innovative resource two new teacher training sessions will be run in November.  Teachers and those involved with youth groups such as Brownies, Cubs and Woodcraft Folk are invited to come along:

4th November at Marks Tey Parish Hall, Essex
12th November, Co-op Education Centre, Ipswich

The sessions are free and all begin with lunch at 12.30 pm and will finish at 4 pm.  Attendees will receive a free pack to take back to their organisation.

It has been written and produced by teachers and young people from Suffolk schools: The Willows and Rosehill Primary Schools in Ipswich; Sudbury and East Bergholt High Schools and East Bergholt Primary School.

Suffolk Education Business Partnership has supported the development of the materials and 1st Question Co-operative of trainers and Offshoot Films have also worked with the young people and the teachers to create a professionally produced resource that is integrated into the curriculum for pupils aged 5 to 11 years.

Judith Rawlinson, Assistant Head of The Willows Primary School in Ipswich, who has been involved in the development of the pack from the beginning said:  “The pack is bright and colourful and contains a DVD of two films made by the pupils and students, which looks at what co-operation really means for people today.  It explores how co-operation works throughout the East of England Co-op Society, as well as Timeline cards setting out how co-operatives have developed since 1944, looks at the jobs people do and explores ethical issues so relevant to us all.”

The launch events held earlier this year were hugely successful and Pam Walker, Education Development Officer for the East of England Co-op commented: “The pack is suitable not only for schools, but also for youth groups such as Brownies, Cubs and Woodcraft Folk so we welcome delegates from all sectors to take part in our training sessions. We also encourage groups to visit our stores and see for themselves how a co-operative puts its values into practice.”

For more information about the pack or if you would like to book on to one of the training sessions, please contact Pam Walker at the East of England Co-operative Society - Tel: 01472 280316 or email education@eastofengland.coop

The East of England Co-operative Society is the largest independent retailer in East Anglia and trades across 2,000 square miles of East Anglian countryside with more than 200 retail outlets and over half a million Members.   It invests a proportion of its profits back into the communities it serves by engaging with Members, local communities, schools and young people.  Earlier this year it returned over £4.2 million of Dividend to its Members in the region.

PHOTO:   Young people involved in the development of ‘More than just a shop’ check out the new learning pack.

Note to editors:

The East of England Co-operative Society is the largest independent retailer in East Anglia and has over 200 trading outlets which are located in 73 towns and villages, plus the three regional centres of Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester.  

The Society’s diverse business activities include: supermarkets and food stores, travel, pharmacy, optical and funeral branches, petrol forecourts and motor dealerships.  
 
Contact:

Miriam Harrup, Communications Manager, East of England Co-operative Society
Wherstead Park, The Street, Wherstead, Ipswich, Suffolk IP9 2BJ
Email: m.harrup@eastofengland.coop