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

We live in a village with very little in it! The one thing that has made a huge difference is the lovely village school where the children have made great friends and teachers do a great job.

The local shopping centre. We moved house last year & the local shopping centre where we used to live was like a ghost town, most of the shops had closed down.
My new shopping centre provides everything I need, without having to make trips to the City centre

Post Office for me, our one in village closed but fortunately another store took on to ensure we have PO services in the village

library - obviously for books, but have number of other sessions for toddlers and older kids too

We attend a local community group, where we ensure we go around the local park cleaning it up, both plants as well as the areas that are littered. Its really important to go outdoors, but its more important for children to respect and protect what is on their own doorstep. Some of the residents were dubious at first as we tried to recruit them, but now we have noticed more people tending to their own gardens too, even spotting people picking up litter to pop into the bin as they pass, not ignore it. We have met some lovely families from the state too, we had never seen them before. Nice to see times are changing, and that were not all hidden behind our front doors.

The local park where the kids spends a larage of time.

We are doo close to bus stops into the t I an and out into the country please no one take away our bus services an vital to young old and inbetween ages. Not everyone can afford more than one or even one car life is expensive

The parks, and the beautiful dog walking areas

The park/splash pad here.

We live in a large but very supportive village. Many if the villagers are involved in community groups and meetings and we have a monthly village newsletter that is delivered to every household to let everyone know what's happening. There is a yearly fun day in the park, there are weekly coach trips, Bingo, meals, gardening club, a refurbished snooker and pool hall, a history group, a quarterly village litter pick and a yearly dog show. Our village reports crime, has neighbourhood watch and has just received a community defibrillator. It's a pretty great village to live in for young and old alike.

Our local Coastguard and BARB volunteers. We live near the sea and as soon as the sun is out they are kept very busy, often having to be called out because people don't read signs or watch their children properly. They are a great group, all of whom have other jobs and commitments, they save so many lives each year and sometimes don't even get a thank you.

open park space

Independent coffee shop with a play area for kids - finally have a coffee in peace!

Our local ukulele strum along. I've met loads of nice people of all ages through it and we gig locally for good causes.

I definitely couldn't be without our local parks and play areas. They have been an absolute godsend to me and my little girls, they have provided us with endless hours of fun when money has been tight (always!) and I can't imagine a community without access to a free outdoor play area.

My little one loves fairs and markets, summer Fetes, anything with rides, children entertainment and stores

As a family we all get involoved in our local parkrun every sat. It's for all ages/abilities a a great way to keep active all year round.

Community notice boards might sound a bit lame, but it helps the community know what's going on, not everyone has Fakebook.

Definitely our local park, it's massive and has things for all ages. As well as a skate ramp and ice cream shop! Amazing!

Our fantastic bus ser ices into the town centre and countryside. We don't all have cars for various reasons. Young people, young mums, older people. Not everyone has the money for two cars. We use the bus services every day totally vital to us all. Let's keep it that way.

Our very small local library which is being threatened with closure :(

It has saved me both mentally (escaping through books to other worlds when this life sometimes got too tough)
and financially over the years (when I couldn't afford books, free internet access, and it has kept us warm a fair few times when I couldn't afford to top up the electricity meter).
My children have been members since they were days old I would be lost without it.
The new big super-hub library in town may be the future, but I prefer the dusty old library round the corner :(

I love the co-operative group. They are definitely good with food. I love that they have their own radio station on in their stores and alerting customers of the latest offers. The staff are very friendly and I have never been to a branch that doesn't provide parking. I'm always looking for a bargain and they have always got everyday use products on special offer. I highly recommend the co-op. I get great value for money from my local store.

The parks nearby most definitely

I love going to the Farmers market every fortnight. Not only do I get to see and talk to loads of people from the local area but I think it is a fantastic thing to support the local community and businesses.

Our local co-op actually! We are very rural with rubbish bus services and the co-op has everything we could possibly need when we need it. It is also a major lifeline for the elderly here too!