Here's a quick update from Chorlton and District Co-ops  (formerly Chorlton Co-op Cluster) - organised by and for local co-ops and co-op members.

Here's some information you may find interesting or helpful during the current situation.

Chorlton Coronavirus Community Response

Chorlton Coronavirus Community Response is a Facebook page where people are organising help for the most vulnerable people in the community.

If you're a Facebook user you can see it here
 

Co-op news and initiatives

Stores close earlier

The Co-op is closing stores at 8pm to give staff a chance to sanitise and re-stock for the following day. Stores open in the morning at 7am.

Spacing

Customers are asked to keep 2m apart if possible.

Staff to get PPE

Co-op staff will be issued with personal protection equipment (face masks and gloves) as soon as possible.

Been laid off? Looking for work quickly?

The Co-op is on a big recruitment drive for temporary staff to help out in shops - quickly. All you need to do is apply to your local store.

Click here for latest news on where there may be vacancies in Chorlton and District.

Co-operate - ideas for helping out

The Co-operate site run by the Co-op has some ideas for helping out locally. You can see it here.

Unicorn news and initiatives

Unicorn has adjusted opening hours to give more time for stock to be put out and to allow a slot for older and vulnerable people.

Unicorn is also now limiting the number of people in the shop at any one time for the safety of customers and workers. 

Stayin' Alive

Chorlton Community Land Trust is still working to meet the 6-month deadline set by the Co-op to come up with a fully worked-out bid for the Chorlton Picture House (currently Co-op Funeralcare) - where the Bee Gees first played.

The trust will be returning to those who pledged to invest in the project. Meanwhile it is consulting with its members on aspects of the development - starting with social value.

You can learn more about the project here.

Anyone can join the Community Land Trust - you can sign up here.

Next meeting 9 May - by video

We held our first Chorlton and District Coops meeting by Zoom video on 21 March and it went well.

Our next meeting will be 10.30 - 11.30 am 9th May. We're assuming it won't yet be safe to hold a face-to-face meeting then so we'll do it by Zoom.

How to join by Zoom

If you have a laptop, smartphone or tablet, just follow this link when it's time to join: https://zoom.us/j/988008800 (but don't use it yet!) This will install a small bit of software that lets you join the conference. You can switch your camera on or off.

Alternatively, you can also join by telephone. Just dial: 020 3051 2874 and then enter the Meeting ID: 988 008 800 when it asks.

Please register

If you intend to join us on-line in May, please register by clicking on the button below.

REGISTER HERE

We're Chorlton and District Co-ops - local Co-op members making our voice heard in the Co-op and working with other co-ops in the community. We hold short informal meetings every two months and we organise local activity around issues like Fairtrade. We recently changed our name (again!) from the Chorlton Co-op Cluster.

Anyone who is interested in co-ops and co-operation is welcome to join us.

Shaun Fensom