Shaping young minds with the community school award
As well as being the UK’s biggest worker cooperative and a leading supplier of vegetarian foods, Suma Wholefoods is also an enthusiastic supporter of schools, community groups and initiatives in the Calderdale area. As such, sponsoring this year’s Community School Award seemed like the natural choice for the wholefood business.
Over the years Suma has built strong partnerships with schools in the local area. Through these partnerships it has been able to achieve long-term environmental benefits, such as helping to build an eco-classroom at Old Earth Primary in Elland and supporting Brighouse High School with a polytunnel project. Pupils have also visited the Suma warehouse to learn how cooperatives operate and understand the importance of ethical business practices.
“We host work experience students and regularly give tours of our premises to school groups,” said Emma Robinson, a member of the cooperative.
“We like to show them a worker cooperative in action and explain the benefits of healthy eating.
“It’s great to be involved in the children’s development and play at least a small part in shaping young minds.”
Suma is made up of 130 members, many of whom have initiated their own community activities like sponsored runs and bike rides to support local charities. Food banks in the area also benefit from surplus and shortdated food that Suma donates, helping to prevent perfectly good food from ending up in landfill.
A big part of Suma’s cooperative ethos is supporting other businesses and helping them to achieve success with the cooperative model.
Suma has contributed startup income and advice to local cooperative ventures including Holmfirth Fairtraders Cooperative, which was set up by local residents and Green Valley Grocers, a community-owned shop in Huddersfield.
“After all,” says Emma, “our motto is ‘all together better’, so working with young people and local businesses means we can play a part in developing the cooperatives of the future.”