Cockfield store’s cash bonanza for village’s good eggs

STAFF at Cockfield Co-op have gone beyond the call of their corporate charity support by raising even more cash for good causes in the village.

The Co-op nationally gives one per cent of the cash made on own-brand products back to the community, allowing the Cockfield store to hand over £1,045 to Teesdale YMCA and £1,120 to the Friends of The Oaks School, in Spennymoor.
But enthusiastic staff went the extra mile to host an Easter raffle and a cake bake sale to raise an additional £345 to help a group behind the village defibrillator.
All of the goodies on sale at the bake sale on Wednesday last week, including cakes, muffins, scones and cupcakes, were home-made by the staff.
Store manager Naila Laundy said the one per cent return to the community was a great initiative by the Co-op.
She added: “The best part is that people locally can choose who the money goes to.
“What we have done is go beyond the one per cent.
“We have chosen something that is at the heart of the community and supported the maintenance of the village defibrillator.”
Along with the cash, each of the community groups was awarded a “Good Egg” badge and a complimentary “Good Egg” Easter egg.
Lesley Hall, oganiser of the community defibrillator group, said the cash would go towards general maintenance of the life saving kit as well as replacing the pads, which can cost as much as £80 each time. She added that she was pleased with the way the community had supported the defibrillator initiative.
Ms Hall said: “I didn’t think it would take off as it has. We are doing very well.
“The people who stepped up and raised the funds and awareness are from the younger community, which is good.”
Also pleased with the Co-op donation was Lesley Taylor, of Teesdale YMCA, who said the organisation’s community cafe next door to the Co-op had a good relationship with the store.
Recipients of the second round of the Co-op’s one per cent scheme will be Staindrop Scouts, Friends of Woodland Primary School and Hamsterley Trailblazers.