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04 Nov 2009 08:55
Cultivating an interest in environmental and money matters, a talented crop of students at the Leek High and Meadows schools will spend the Autumn and Winter months preparing the ground for Spring planting, thanks to a donation from Britannia - part of The Co-operative Financial Services.
The £2,631 donation, from Britannia's charitable Foundation, launches the school's innovative gardening project, providing a range of equipment including a green-house, garden-tools and seeds and, helping to transform an unused plot of land into a productive and educational gardening experience.
Denise Ward, manager of Britannia's Leek branch, said: "The Britannia Foundation is one way in which we support communities. We remain committed to the local area and, by co-operating with education providers, work to promote improvements in numeracy and financial literacy - the basics of personal finance and money management.
"We hope the school's new gardening club will provide valuable skills-based learning experiences, developing understanding of environmental, business and money matters for many years to come."
John Spencer, newly appointed head of Leek High Specialist Technology School, added: "We are delighted with the support from Britannia - our gardening project is an exciting new initiative for the school.
"Set up along the lines of a small business, pupils gain real-life skills and experiences including; costing, budgeting, team-work, planning and, the practicalities and importance of re-cycling and sustainability. The project offers all this plus, the fresh-air, exercise and rewarding experience that an interest and enthusiasm for gardening brings.”
Members of the community can also support the school's project by donating gardening tools or equipment. For more information, contact Pat Mason or Sue Hodgkinson at Leek High on 01538 483036 or, email pm@leekhigh.staffs.sch.uk
The Britannia Foundation offers grants and donations to registered charities and schools working within education, particularly numeracy and/or financial literacy. For more information, pop in to your local Britannia branch or click www.britannia.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
About The Co-operative Financial Services:
The Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) is part of The Co-operative Group, which is the world’s largest consumer co-operative with around five million members, over £14 billion turnover, and core business interests in financial services, food, travel, pharmacy and funeral care. The Co-operative Group has over 5,300 retail trading outlets, including Somerfield.
Following the merger with Britannia on 1 August 2009, the new organisation is one of the largest and well diversified mutual businesses operating in both retail and corporate markets.
As part of The Co-operative Group, the new business will be characterised by its unique ethical and member reward policies and very high levels of customer advocacy.
The combined business has £70 billion in assets, 12,000 staff and nine million customers. It has over 300 high street branches, 20 corporate banking centres and a major presence in Manchester, London, Leek, Bristol, Plymouth, Skelmersdale and Stockport. There are also 1,000 face-to-face financial advisers throughout the UK.
It is the only mutual organisation that enables its members to earn financial rewards for the products they hold, as well as giving them the opportunity to have a say in how the business is ran.
For more information contact: