Tell Co-op what you couldn’t live without in your local community - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[AmeliaMumsnet]

Whether it’s meeting new friends, amenities for the kids, or clubs and charities, it’s so important to make the most of the community you live in. Co-op want to know what you couldn’t live without where you live. Whether it’s where you are now, or the place that really feels like home, which clubs, activities, or services really make a difference to you in your local area?

Here’s what the Co-op have said: ‘Local community values are so important to us - that’s why we give 1% of everything our members spend on selected Co-op branded products and services from Co-op Group businesses, including food stores and funeral homes, to local initiatives in your community. So far, we’ve paid out £9 million to over 4,000 local causes! You can find out more, and sign up to become a member, here.’

You can read the Co-op’s membership T&Cs here.

Whether it’s a local event that brings everyone together, an after school sports club that gets your DC outdoors and active, or even just the beautiful natural scenery, Co-op want to know what really matters to you locally. So tell them about those local services, amenities or events that you just couldn't live without by posting in the thread below.

Every MNer who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Our area has lots of bars, shops and restaurants so there's no shortage of places but it disn't really have a hub. A few years back people took over one of the pubs (one with a not too great reputation) and refurbished it. What they also did was start holding events to make it the centre of the area too and it's worked. The hold a massive (free) fireworks display for fireworks night and new year, they have a local produce market etc and other events. All of them a family friendly. Now I know it's marketting and probably costs them a few bob but it really does get everybody out. It also means I can have cheaky drink with the kids entertained doing something they've put on.

I live in a lovely rural village but with poor transport links and very few businesses. I think the school and church are the heart of the village along with our doctors surgery. I don't know how we would manage without the practice and its friendly, caring staff. An on-site pharmacy is a bonus. We are so lucky to have this wonderful trio of organisations caring for so many of the residents' needs. I would not to live anywhere else in the world

Our local Kirkgate market in Leeds is a buzy busy place. Plenty of interest for the sprogs.

Children's centre. Very helpful for mummies and lots of fun for children.

I love our local sports center, not only has it got a swimming pool, gym, athletic track , football pitch it also holds birthday parties and offers free swimming lessons and activities during the summer!

Seeing the sun glinting on the sea from the coast road. Chicken soup for the soul.

Our local brownies is brilliant and we have a local lake that has a park and lovely walks around it and into he woods. It's very well looked after and somewhere we often go xx

My lovely neighbours! We have a street Book club, there's always someone willing to take in parcels when I am working and we re even organising a Street Party! It great knowing my neighbours and definitely improves my quality of life as I feel part of my community.

the welldressings are traditional round where I live

The local post office - it is run by the most lovely family who genuinely care about their customers and offering a warm welcome and good service - to the extent which people come from other towns to use it because of how good the experience is
Just to give an example, a few months ago I wanted to send some toys to my niece in Singapore - when they asked if they contained batteries and I said I thought they might, the owner and his son went and got their screwdrivers and took the batteries out and repackaged the items for me so that I wouldn't have to go home and then come back again - if only more places offered service like this - as a result I will never go anywhere else!

the duck pond. It's the hub of the village

Whilst not directly on our doorstep we live local enough to enjoy Harrogate Valley Gardens which is an absolute god send and makes for a great few hours out.

It's primarily free to walk around the beautiful gardens or enjoy the extensive park which has several different climbing frames, swings, roundabouts and more for varying ages as well as a small outdoor pool. They also offer some paid for activities like mini golf and have a skate park too so there is something for all the family.

Being in Yorkshire we are also very lucky to have fantastic farms on our doorstep and I think it's great as children get to learn about and see the animals. Two of my favourites are Non Go Bye Farm in Leeds, which is free entry and you can buy bags of food for 50p to feed the pigs, chickens, ponys/donkeys etc. It's not the largest farm by any means but is a nice trip out and is just down the road from a community run farm shop and cafe which sell the most amazing meringues! My second favourite farm is Swithens Farm in Rothwell. It's a bit more expensive as it charges entry (it recently cost us £14 for 3 adults, 1 4 year old and baby went free) but it's much more extensive in what it offers as it has everything from the usual cows and pigs to meerkats, terrepins, goats and guinea pigs. You can pet the animals and at set times throughout the day they allow you to feed the lambs and goats with bottles of milk which is a great experience. They also have a huge outdoor play area with giant haystacks to climb on, trampolines, bouncy castles, a climbing frame and an outdoor sand pit. It really is brilliant.

My local swimming pool x

So grateful for the local swimming pool and it is great that fun activities are put on during the school holidays.

I live in a village location no bus route or shop so totally rely on my own car, the only break I get is the free school bus which is a godsend

The mother and toddler groups! I don't think I'd be sane without them! 😂😂

Not a lot goes on in our little village - but I do love that the mobile library still comes to visit. It's great to see the little old ladies and Mums & toddlers paying it a visit when it's parked up. People (the older ones) would miss out on this vital contact with the outer world if it didn't.

We have a fantastic soft play in walking distance from our house. It's my go to place when my DD needs to burn off some energy and is a life saver during the winter months on days when it's too wet or cold to play outside.

The local park. Rumour has it they are going to build houses on it. Yes we need more housing but we also need green space for the people living in those house to go.

Local park, cafes, shops, train line, swimming pool, local museums, toddler clubs, tennis lessons, dance school. I love where I live because I have so much around me.

Our village doesn't have a library at present and I think that is such a shame. I used to work in a library as a Saturday job and loves the diversity of people that came through the doors, and all the different activities going on -knitting groups, computer lessons, story time etc etc
I think the key is events and places where everyone feels welcome and can mix

The local playground is essential, and the wood close by.

Good, accessible outdoor spaces are essential.

for me it is a local "gossip girls" facebook group. Thousands of local women who are a wealth of local knowledge, and many go out of their way to support others through difficult times. From lost cats, needing a plumber, best routes to take to places, best local cake and fundraising for local causes, it's an invaluable local resource!

Our local library is great. You don't even need to be a member, they have story telling hours and even a playhouse :)

A brilliant park where kids and parents meet to play and chat :)