The magazine for retired Co-op pension scheme members Autumn 2019 evergreen Inside 25 years of Fairtrade Federation House Ageing well in your own home A Shropshire lass Star of the show... evergreen | Autumn 2019 1 Welcome Welcome to the autumn issue of Evergreen magazine. slavery and help those who have been We also have not one, but two so cruelly exploited. competitions to win a hotel stay – one from Best Western (page 11) and the Looking at a different type of other from Coast & Country Hotels employment model, I’m sure our former (page 35). Why not have a go – you colleagues won’t be surprised to hear could be a winner and enjoy a paid-for, that the Co-op is leading the way in two-night break for two people. offering apprenticeships to staff, across all areas of the business. Our youngest Remember, we love to hear from you, apprentice is 16 and the oldest is 74! so please do keep sending your stories Turn to page 10 for the full story. in. Until the spring issue, have a wonderful festive season. I can’t believe we’re already coming We have the usual mix of stories from to the end of 2019 and heading into different areas of the Co-op, as well as the Roaring Twenties (for some of news and information of interest to our our readers, this may be for the readership: Silver Sunday, an annual fun second time!) day for older people (page 29); how to Jackie Carr protect your home against unwelcome You might have thought that slavery Pensioner Welfare Officer visitors (page 32); and how to live safely died out in the 19th century, but 0330 606 9470 at home (page 34). unfortunately even in this day and age the scourge of slavery remains. On pages 40-41 you’ll find our usual On page 8, you can find out what the puzzles, with the chance to win one of Co-op is doing to fight modern-day three Co-op Food Vouchers worth £50. Regulars Features Contents Postbag 4 Ed recommends 5 In this issue Co-op news 6 Save our spaces 7 Snapped 18 Modern slavery 8 Time to celebrate 19 12 20 Apprenticeships at the Co-op 10 Tax Help for Older People 36 Spread the Christmas cheer 14 Doctor’s Corner 38 Let’s celebrate 16 Puzzle time 40 Stay well this winter 21 Noticeboard 42 Co-op Credit Union 22 34 43 A unique celebration for every life 24 Prizes & offers On the cover: Gingerbread Latte What’s stopping you from Win a two-night stay at Christmas cake 15 making a Will? 26 a Best Western hotel 11 Archive origin stories 28 £100 or 5% off a Co-op funeral plan 25 Changing lives – Silver Sunday 2019 29 15% discount on telephone and 25 years of Fairtrade 12 online Co-op Wills services 26 Taking a stand against scams 30 Federation House: Win a home alarm system 33 back to the future 20 Home security 32 Save 10% on home security products 33 Ageing well in your own home 34 Coast & Country Hotels competition 35 A Shropshire lass 43 £50 Co-op Food Vouchers 40 2 evergreen | Autumn 2019 Hello What do you think when you read or hear the word ‘wellbeing’? Wellbeing is a current buzzword and everyone seems to be talking about it. Lots of companies say they have a ‘wellbeing proposition’ for their employees but that doesn’t mean they do really have one in practice. At the Co-op we’re working hard to On this subject I’d like to put the provide truly meaningful wellbeing spotlight on two fine organisations that benefits and services for all of our have wellbeing at their very heart. colleagues. This centres around three Many of you will be aware of the key areas of focus: health, mental wellbeing and financial wellbeing. excellent work done by the Co-op Credit Union over many years and I’m The most important factors are delighted to see an article by them in I appreciate it’s a bit soon for Christmas making sure we’re listening to our this edition of Evergreen. and New Year wishes(!) but all the very colleagues to understand what best from myself and everyone in the matters most to them and ensure Meanwhile our Retired Employee Pensions Team. We know that a good, they both know about, and can Associations (REAs) continue to do secure pension is a cornerstone for access, these benefits – wherever great things. Whilst some of our REAs many retired colleagues’ wellbeing they work for us. have been in decline in some parts of and can assure you we never lose the country, I’m delighted to see a We’re also looking at how we provide sight of this. financial education in schools resurgence in the Manchester Retired through our Academies. And it Employee Association. The Committee doesn’t end there because retired here are really focused on a wide variety colleagues and Co-op Members of activities, involving as many former could also benefit from some of our colleagues as possible and helping to Gary Dewin wellbeing initiatives in the future if tackle loneliness. Expect to hear more People Director (Pensions, Reward, we can get this right. about this soon. Wellbeing & ER) Physical wellbeing of our communities Hello everyone, goes hand in hand with mental wellbeing. So, to address mental health, we’ve just launched a long-term partnership November has become my favourite with the charity MIND and we’ll be time of year at the Co-op. It’s when fund-raising to support its work. we give the millions of pounds our members have been earning through As you can see, supporting and our Co-op Member rewards to the local strengthening the communities we causes they’ve chosen to support. serve continues to be at the heart of our thinking at the Co-op. You can We’re on track to give 4,000 local read more on page 7 of the magazine. causes across the UK around £5,000 Look out for more news about our each. It’s money that can make a huge community work over the coming difference to small local organisations These are the places where cooperation months and enjoy this issue of Evergreen. which struggle to keep going. For some truly happens! We’ve also begun a it means they can run for another 12 partnership with the charity Steel Warriors Thank you for your ongoing support months and for others it allows them to to create outdoor gyms, made from and your years of service. We’re working develop and grow. melted down knives which have been hard to create a legacy we can all be taken off the streets by the police. It’s so proud of. Have you come across our Endangered relevant with the nationally reported Spaces campaign yet? By 2022 we’re rise in knife crime in our communities. aiming to protect 2,000 community We’re not just talking about change, spaces which are at risk of being lost, we’re making it happen in the Steve Murrells like playing fields, parks and village halls. communities that need it the most. Co-op CEO evergreen | Autumn 2019 3 Postbag POSTBag Star letter Winnerʼs thanks! Hidden memories Just got back from our stay at Nanteos. My When I left school I worked in the Co-op grocery shop in wife and I thoroughly Waltham Cross. enjoyed ourselves and I well remember Carnival Week. Every shop took part in a it took me back to the competition where we had to put on a window display which glory days of the CIS contained an item we did not sell. I helped the manager with and the wonderful arrangements of tinned fruit, vegetables, pickles and sauces, times we had winning jams, wines and soups etc. Our secret item was a postage prizes like this. stamp stuck on the label of a wine bottle. Thanks for the opportunity to win this brilliant prize. I remember seeing the crowds of children with their noses up Keep up the good work. against the windows trying to find the odd item and their Many thanks squeals of delight when they discovered it, then scribbling the K Cox answer on their entry form. Then on to the butcher with a pig’s head on display and in its mouth an orange. The cycle shop opposite with bikes and accessories hiding a baby’s bottle in a cycle basket. Monthly meetings There’s lots more but too many to remember. A group of ladies who retired from the Co-op Department The carnival parade rounded off the week with the Carnival Store in Bath over 20 years ago still meet every month for Queen in the procession along the high street. morning coffee. This photo shows some of them at one of the group’s 80th birthday party last year. Happy times, I still smile 65 years later when I look back to such excitement. R Smith Pat Richardson 4 evergreen | Autumn 2019 Latest posting dates Ed recommends As I write this in late September, the Christmas 2019 rain is streaming down the windows for and memories of our brief summer As we approach the busiest time of year, we have so many are already fading fast. Below I have listed three wines which I can heartily things to remember – but don’t forget about Auntie May who recommend for your dinner table this looks forward to your Christmas card and greeting.