About us Menu Home About us Small things, Big Difference Current: Ann Osborn, Rural Coffee Caravan Ann Osborn, Rural Coffee Caravan Just existing to help other people We have donated over 8,000 teabags through our Co-op Cuppa scheme, helping the Rural Coffee Caravan tackle rural isolation in their communities. Getting information in rural communities isn’t easy. Isolation, even loneliness, can be a problem. And that’s what The Rural Coffee Caravan was set up to tackle across Suffolk. “Using our actual caravan, village halls or any similar facility, we get local people together over tea, coffee and cake, give out a wide range of information about organisations and the services they offer and just let people meet and talk to each other.” explains Project Manager Ann Osborn. “We just exist to help other people.” “This care in the community ethos is one we very much share with the East of England Co-op through its Cuppa scheme. In fact we often operate together, helping each other at events. The Co-op has also been very generous with funding and continues to support us. It’s a great partnership.” Knowing what’s going on in isolated rural communities isn’t always easy. It’s especially difficult if access to transport is limited or the village shop, pub or post office has gone. Coffee Caravan events attract a broad spread of people who might not usually attend social functions - old, young, families, single mums and dads. Last year its 50 volunteers set up 185 events, attracting nearly 6,000 local residents. The information it imparted was as varied as its community spread and covered just about everything you could think of; from Samaritans to housing support, from animal rescue to community safety. “We are literally just a vehicle to bring people together, to share knowledge, friendship and lives.” About us Annual Report and Accounts Co-op Loan Fund Board and Leadership Team International Women's Day 2021 Responsible business Small things, Big Difference Ann Osborn, Rural Coffee Caravan Blue Cross Rehoming Centre Colleagues supporting our community Co-op Guide to Dating Co-op Juniors Theatre Company Emma Tacon, The Tacons Farm Evelyn Rutter, Funeral Bereavement Support Gary Chase, Building Services Jack Brock Julie Preston, Member Lisa Lightly, Tiptree Travel Lorraine, one of our Sourced Locally demonstrators Michael Coe, Great Tilkey Honey Michael Davies, Funeral Repatriation Norwich Foodbank Rebecca Miles, Lane Farm Sam Fairs, Hillfarm Oils Santa's Suitcase Scott, our Anti-Social Behaviour Officer Simon Alders, Recovery Hub Ipswich Steven Fendley, Waste Management Susan Coulson, Chorus Iceni East of England Co-op Retirement Benefits Scheme Co-op Juniors Theatre Company We've supported the Co-op Juniors for over 70 years, bringing thousands of young people together and helping their dreams come true. Watch the Co-op Juniors' story Michael Coe, Great Tilkey Honey Michael started out with only one hive and with our help he now has a thriving business and is part of our Sourced Locally range and winner of Producer of the Year 2017. Watch Michael's story Contact us East of England Co-op Wherstead Park, The Street, Wherstead, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2BJ Main Switchboard: 01473 786000 For general enquiries: enquiries@eastofengland.coop For membership and dividend enquiries: membersupport@eastofengland.coop 0800 389 5354 For customer support : customersupport@eastofengland.coop 01473 786000 For community funding enquiries: Applications need to be made online here Follow us Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube LinkedIn A member of Accessibility Contact us Copyright notice Legal notice Privacy Policy Site Map Terms & conditions 360 Degree IconAbout Iconicon/icon_americanexpressATM Machine.ahst0{fill:#4a4a4a}icon/icon_breadcrumbarrowicon/icon_busicon/icon_buttonarrowicon/icon_buttonarrowupicon/icon_callusnow icon/icon_callusnowred icon/icon_chapelofresticon/icon_closednow icon/icon_closednow icon/icon_collectplusicon/icon_contactUsicon/icon_crossicon/icon_currentlyopenShow Currently open storesicon/icon_customerserviceicon/icon_discovericon/icon_download.bast0{fill:#4a4a4a}icon/icon_ecofuneralicon/icon_editicon/icon_facebookicon/icon_fairfuneralicon/icon_familyfriendlyicon/icon_faqminusicon/icon_faqplusicon/icon_findbranchicon/icon_homeicon/icon_homedeliveryicon/icon_homepageconfig_1icon/icon_homepageconfig_1_1icon/icon_homepageconfig_1_2icon/icon_homepageconfig_2_1icon/icon_homepageconfig_2_2icon/icon_instagramicon/icon_joinusicon/icon_joinusicon/icon_locationicon/icon_lotteryicon/icon_magicon/icon_mastercardicon/icon_menuicon/icon_menuicon/icon_multifaithicon/icon_opennow icon/icon_paginationfirsticon/icon_paginationlasticon/icon_paginationnexticon/icon_paginationprevicon/icon_parkingicon/icon_parkingnearbyicon/icon_paypointicon/icon_pinShapeicon/icon_postofficeicon/icon_prepayment.cpst0{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd}icon/icon_busicon/icon_subwayicon/icon_tabletmenuicon/icon_tickicon/icon_travelmoneyicon/icon_twittericon/icon_visaicon/icons_coopicon/icons_google+icon/icons_linkedinicon/icons_youtubelogo/logo_foodlogo/logo_funeraltext