20 June 2019 The future is about to get wilder thanks to voters
It was a close run election with just nine votes in it as co-operative members took to the polls to vote. The voting was part of a leadership competition with a difference – the chance to elect Board members with the aim of working together co-operatively
The votes also resulted in more than £1,800 being donated to The Wildlife Trusts for the Wilder Future campaign – 25p for every voter.
Southern Co-op – the regional, independent co-operative – is owned by its members, not big investors, with a Board of Directors elected from these members.
The Board is responsible for the strategic direction of the co-operative and for overseeing the work the Leadership Team do on a day to day basis.
This year’s elections were for three seats on the Board and the elected candidates were Elizabeth Rogers, Joanne Gray and Neil Blanchard – all existing Board members.
Committed to managing the business in a responsible and sustainable manner, the donation to The Wildlife Trusts will go towards its Wilder Future campaign – a growing movement to help our environment to recover from its current critical condition.
In the pre-election questions asked by members, Joanne Gray said: “Southern Co-op is committed to looking at ways to limit the impact on our environment. A number of initiatives have already been successfully introduced, including a range of energy-efficiency measures which have led to a reduction in retail energy consumption.
“I am personally very aware of our need to act on climate change now in order to protect the environment for our future generations. For me social responsibility and caring for others is based on co-operative values and is what stands us apart.”
As part of its commitment to protecting the environment, Southern Co-op has also been successfully carrying out biodiversity work at its crematoria and natural burial ground.
To find out more about Southern Co-op’s commitment to making a difference, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/makingadifference/.