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

The walk down the Thames

I really like that in such a small village we still have our library. It's a great resource for information and a hub for the community.

I would have said the local children's centre but it closed down :( it was amazing. The local toddler groups are great though and local parks. I'm not sure what I'd do in the summer without our beautiful parks!

We move to the countryside for all the walks and have to say they are amazing and with the dog you just can't live without all these little public rights-of-way that can lead you for miles without touching the road! I have to also say that the local cafe is pretty important to me to! Just somewhere that serves a bit of food and coffee.

Our DC's local primary school, which has an amazing range of after school clubs and activities which they love, and holds fantastic fundraising events for families to attend. DC are so proud of their school and love going every day!

A baby friendly cafe which has lots of different classes running from it. Good coffee, good food and lots for my 16 month old to do.

We have some lovely local businesses in our local town and a paddling pool which is free for families to use during the summer months which is great.
I used to work in coop in my home town which is the next town over. This store recently helped my family with the fundraising initiative with a charity which is very close to our hearts which we were so greatful for.
It's so nice when small towns come together

Our town has a National Trust property at the top of the high street and it's free for pedestrians and cyclists to enter all year round. It's a wonderful space to walk dogs and let the children play. It really is the heart of the town and has been for hundreds of years, which makes me feel really connected to history

The best Salvation Army charity shop ever!

As well as clothes, it sells books, furniture and bric a brac and as it's only a couple of minutes walk from home I pop in at least once a week.

I think its our local Beavers & Cubs groups. As I home educate my kids, I still need to get them mixing with other kids, so I became a Beaver Leader and so did my husband, so that we could skip the waiting line lol (otherwise the kids would have to wait two years to get in!)
We have made some wonderful friends, so have the kids, and without it, my children would have a lot less friends. x We are so grateful for it. x

People who volunteer and put on events at local community centres. It really brings people together.

The lions club is very active in my town. They organise several free community events throughout the year which really makes the town feel like a friendly and inclusive place to live. We've met some lovely people while attending these events and when we've been hard of money it's been great to have something to do.

A good local toddler group. We relocate every few years due to employment so I would be lost if I don't have a good local toddler group to take my little ones too and to make new friends in the community 😊

The co -op it's a big part of our community and even has our community board outside
It's closing for 4 weeks to be refurbished and we are all panicking 😂

The playparks. There are a couple around 1-2 miles away with decent equipment and plenty of space for kids to run around in. About 20 miles away, in a larger town, there are many parks but two in particular are great. One is separated into two areas so toddlers have one bit and older kids another. The equipment is good and some is even good for crawlers. The other one has accessible equipment which also makes it easier and safer for little ones.

I do wish we had better equipment in the closer ones but I'm still very grateful to have areas that are free and allow Ds to have fun while getting exercise and building up his strength. I don't know what we'd do without them.

I totally rely on our local bus service as I don't drive. DS3's school bus was recently axed, so he also relies on the public service bus now to get to school.

We have no amenities, so have to learn to live without. Even the phone box was taken away under the cover of darkness. I would love to have the luxury of a little shop.

It would be the local shop- not only serving as a place for newspapers and essentials but also a little hub of the community.

It has to be my local sure start centre! I had my midwife appts there with both my children, then the baby classes and now the nursery upstairs are supporting my autistic son's early learning and i will be sending my daughter there too next year! An invaluable service really.

My town has its own strange council set up which means we have a beautiful cinema and farm for children part subsidised by the council, the cinema is much cheaper than mainstream chains. There are regular events in the shopping centre, particular in the summer but all year round. It has a real community feel.

our local library - for books, IT, chats with mums and other local friends and neighbours, peace and quiet - information, rhymetimes, the list goes on. vital and much appreciated.

The local village playgroup, Couldn't imagine what it would be like without it and also the library, Reading is so important to me and Riley loves it. We are never away!! ☺

I couldn't live without my local market. It allows me to get fresh veg and fruit on the weekends (since everything around me closes at 6pm before i get home, allowing no time for me to shop for any extras if needed!). In addition one of the stalls sells american import drinks such as green tea. my daughter much prefers this as it tastes 100x better then what we can normally buy say at ASDA. Thanks to the lil local guys that help me love it every weekend!

i love our local co-op as a member it helps to save money and help local communities, but the best bit for me as a student with a student card i save 10% on my shop when i buy co-op own brand which i do as their food is quality and as good as any dearer branded make.

WE COUDNT BE WITHOUT OUR LOCAL WREXHAM D.S.A. FOOTBALL CLUB, THEY ARE A GROUP OF HARDWORKING LADS AND GIRLS WHO HAVE ONE THE MAJORITY OF THE GAMES FOR THE DISABLED, THEY ARE ON MONDAY GOING TO REPRESENT WALES IN THE EUROPEAN MENTAL HEALTH TOURNAMENT IN MUNICH, MY SON IS THEIR MANAGER, THEY ARE A VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION AND WITH THE HELP OF THE COOP HAVE RAISED £4,000 TO BE ABLE TO FUND THIS TRIP, THEY ARE A CREDIT TO THE COMMUNITY