About us Menu Home About us Small things, Big Difference Current: Julie Preston, Member Julie Preston, Member Our store in Colman Road looked out for Julie’s mum, a regular customer who was living with dementia, letting Julie know if things were ok and helping her mum stay in her own home for longer. Maintaining our independence as we grow older is vital. It helps keep us young and feeling more alive. That’s what the Co-op did for Julie Preston’s mum. A lively 84 year old, Beryl didn’t want to know she’d been diagnosed with progressive dementia. She’d always been an independent, happy character so daughter Julie wanted to do everything so Mum’s lifestyle could continue as long as possible. “Mum wanted to live independently so, while keeping an eye on her, we let her do as she wished. “She would go out for walks and shopping which, initially wasn’t a problem. However as her dementia progressed she began to get more confused and a bit lost. She had always shopped at our local Co-op and started to go in a few times each day as she felt safe there and everyone was so nice. “The Co-op colleagues knew who she was and soon accepted that all was not right with Mum. She would repeatedly buy the same items and occasionally wander out without paying. None of this was a problem for any of the Co-op colleagues who were absolutely wonderful. They really looked after her, called me if she needed help and, without a doubt, were responsible for keeping Mum going strong and happy for a good few extra years. “Mum had to move into residential care last Christmas but still speaks lovingly about ‘her Co-op’. We are all so grateful to the colleagues and thank them for those little acts of kindness that made such a big difference.” Tell us your story We're collecting stories from members, customers, colleagues and the community about how we're doing small things that make a big difference. If you've got a story you'd like to share, please let us know using the form below. First Name: Last Name: Phone Number: Email: Which branch is your comment about?: What's the small thing you'd like to share?: We may need to contact you: The information submitted here is used and stored for the purpose of processing your application, responding to your enquiry, passing on your comment (and anything else this form relates to). To view our privacy policy please click here. How can we contact you?: How can we contact you? We’d love to send you money off coupons, exclusive member offers and updates from East of England Co-op, but we can only do this if you tick yes below. We promise to treat your personal details with the utmost care, and will never sell, distribute or lease your data to other companies to use for their own marketing purposes. Please tell us how you would like to hear from East of England Co-op. To opt in tick the relevant box/es, to opt out, leave the relevant box/es blank. By Email By Phone By Post By Text reCAPTCHA: Small things that make a big difference We know it's not just one thing that we do, as your local Co-op that makes us different. We have just a few stories from our members, customers and suppliers that show how little things are making a big impact. Read more stories 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