Members of the Co-op are being encouraged to vote as part of Co-op’s 2023 AGM, where they are set to provide support towards raising £5 million for Barnardo’s – the UK’s biggest children’s charity.
Members of the UK’s largest co-operative business – who are eligible to vote – will generate £1 for voting on representatives within Co-op’s National Members’ Council, directors on the Co-op Board or on AGM motions, including bringing more young people into Co-op.
Voting packs are already being issued to eligible members, via post and by email, with a voting deadline of 15 May. Members can also vote in person at the AGM event, to be held at the Manchester Central venue in the city centre on Saturday 20 May.
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It comes as 400 Co-op members sign a motion calling for the supermarket to adopt the Better Chicken Commitment and improve animal welfare standards.
The new initiatives raised by the retailer are intended to encourage members to use their vote to shape the way Co-op does business and help create a fairer world.
Group CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq commented: “Our members are strongest when we come together and drive the direction our Co-op takes on our vision.
“We hope that by making this donation available to voting members, they can get even more value for their vote, including building on a brilliant start to our fundraising for Barnardo’s, with whom we are all so delighted to partner.”
More than 100 candidates are standing to represent 4.4 million active members across the UK within Co-op’s National Members’ Council.
The Council meets throughout the year to hold the Board to account and input into key business decisions.
“In March, we announced a new partnership with Co-op and are aiming to raise £5 million. We’re so grateful to its members for coming together like this and creating this opportunity to raise awareness so early into the partnership,” chief executive of Barnardo’s, Lynn Perry MBE said.
“With Co-op’s support and the money raised, we can give 750,000 young people access to basic needs like food, help improve their mental wellbeing and create better opportunities for the future.”
