sponsorship
proud supporters of great events, sports and campaigns
We re-sign as title sponsor of Activate Sports
We have re-signed as title sponsor of Activate Sport, one of the leading providers of sport, activity and adventure camps for 5 to 16-year-old boys and girls in the UK.
The sponsorship will also see us support the specialist academies of sporting stars including cricket legend Andrew Flintoff, the new academies of Welsh rugby star Shane Williams, former England legend Matt Dawson, European Tour winner Lee Westwood and Irish golfer Darren Clarke. An International Netball Roadshow led by netball stars Karen Atkinson, Tracey Neville and Olivia Murphy will also form part of the sponsorship.
The sponsorship agreement will see the stars’ academies and camps partnered with The Co-operative to form:
- The Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy in partnership with The Co-operative Food
- The Lee Westwood Golf Academy in partnership with The Co-operative
- The Shane Williams Rugby Academy in partnership with The Co-operative
- The Matt Dawson Rugby Academy in partnership with The Co-operative
- The Darren Clarke Golf Academy in partnership with The Co-operative Food
- International Netball Roadshow in partnership with The Co-operative
The Activate Sport Camps provide a source of expert tuition for youngsters by offering children the chance to learn from the best coaches in their sport, as do the specialist academies and camps, where youngsters might even bump into their sporting heroes.
Head of Sponsorship at The Co-operative, Liz Matkin said: “We’re delighted to have re-signed with Activate Sport and we welcome the new academies to the sponsorship. The camps take place in communities and promote participation and inclusion for children, so sponsoring the programme is a natural fit with our brand values.”
For further information visit www.activatesport.co.uk plus look our for more information and offers on this site over the coming year.
What's more, members of The Co-operative receive a 10% discount on any Activate Sport camp or academy.
The Co-operative and The Variety Club Children’s Charity
We have launched a partnership with The Variety Club’s Children Charity – including supporting the 2010 Gold Hearts Appeal by selling badges instore.
For more than 60 years The Variety Club has brought hope, independence and freedom to children and young people. The charity has raised over £200 million since its inception. Among its tireless work, the charity provides Sunshine Coaches, Easy Riders electric wheelchairs, exciting and educational trips, equipment for children's hospitals and life-enhancing equipment.
Singer and TV personality Alesha Dixon is the face the 2010 Gold Hearts appeal, and has designed a limited-edition Gold Heart badge to raise money for The Variety Club Children’s Charity. With help from some of the children benefitting from the charity’s fantastic work, a launch party was held at London’s iconic Battersea Power Station, with Alesha Dixon switching on a 50-metre projection of herself on the face of the building to reveal her exclusive design for this year’s badge.
The Variety Club Gold Hearts are the original charity badge. Established in 1991, the badges have featured a different design every year and are a popular collectors’ item. This year’s design features the classic gold finish and Alesha’s signature.
Each Gold Heart badge sold will help to raise much-needed funds for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people all over the country. Alesha Dixon said: “I’m honoured to be fronting the 2010 Gold hearts appeal. The Variety Club is a fantastic charity which every year helps thousands of children and young people.
“Every badge bought from The Co-operative will make a real difference to someone’s life. Just three badges will pay for an unforgettable day out for a young person, so I’m encouraging everyone to go out and buy them.”
We will be promoting the Gold Hearts Appeal in all our Food, Pharmacy, Bank and Travel stores and branches across the UK. More than 4,000 stores will carry point of sale, and Gold Heart messaging will be promoted via till screens, petrol pumps and in-store radio. A number of life-size Alesha Dixon cardboard cutouts will be placed in larger stores to draw customers’ attention to the campaign. More about our Variety Club Gold Hearts appeal.
The Co-operative International Test Series – England versus Australia
International netball is returning in February 2010!
It’s the return of The Co-operative International Netball Series in February – and this time it’s England v No.1 in the world, Australia.
Following the sell-out crowds at last year’s England v Jamaica game, we are expecting demand to be high and the atmosphere to be electric.
The England v Australia game is an imperative competition for both sides of the hemisphere as essential world ranking points are up for grabs. Both teams will demonstrate the ability to think on their feet, showcasing desirable moves and technical skill.
It’s going to be a great spectacle for ongoing netball fans and the perfect opportunity to introduce new spectators to the sport. The series takes place at the following venues:
- The Echo Arena, Liverpool – Friday 19th February at 7pm
- The Trent FM Arena, Nottingham – Sunday 21st February at 4.30pm
- The 02 arena, London – Tuesday 23rd February at 7pm
Find out more about ticket information and prices at The-Co-operative International Netball Series February 2010 (opens in new window).
Pride of Britain Awards 2009
Following the success of the 2008 campaign, The Co-operative is delighted to continue as the sole sponsor of the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards for 2009.
As the biggest awards ceremony of its kind in the UK, the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards – like The Co-operative – is committed to supporting communities and recognising the extraordinary efforts of the people within them. Unsurprisingly, the Local Champion Award sponsored by The Co-operative will be the focus of The Co-operative activity instore.
Internally, The Co-operative will be searching for the Pride of The Co-operative, whilst external activity will encourage nominations, spark creativity amongst young people and provide content for TV, press and online media activity.
For further details please visit last year's microsite at
www.co-operative.coop/prideofbritain.
Netball and ‘Back The Bid’
The Co-operative is a proud sponsor of the Netball Superleague which actively encourages the development of the sport in communities throughout the country.
The Netball Superleague is the top netball league in the country, with nine elite teams from England, Scotland and Wales. This season we have launched the hugely successful ‘Bring a Bloke’ campaign, to encourage men to watch their local team and enjoy the sport.
The Co-operative Superleague games are shown weekly on Sky Sports with the season finale taking place on 4 April in Coventry.
From 16 March 2009, the first ever international Netball Podcast will hit the airwaves. In association with The Co-operative and England Netball, the podcast will be a Co-operative Netball Superleague Playoff special featuring everything you need to know about the top four sides in The Co-operative Netball Superleague ahead of the playoffs and the grand final itself.
The Netball Pod is absolutely FREE to download from www.thenetballpod.com and iTunes.
As part of our ongoing commitment to netball, The Co-operative champion the bid for netball to be included in the Olympic Games.
Netball is played by one million women and girls each week in the UK, and is one of the most popular female team sports in the world, being played in over 70 countries. Despite this popularity – and being a regular sport in the Commonwealth Games – netball has never featured in the Olympics.
Over half-a-million people have already backed the Olympic bid, alongside high-profile personalities such as Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Cherie Blair, Dame Kelly Holmes, Denise Lewis, Bryan Robson, Mark Ramprakash, and rugby league stars Jon Wilkin and Robbie Paul.
The Co-operative’s tireless work on the campaign was recognised in February 2009 when we were awarded with The Sunday Times Best Sponsorship of the Year at their inaugural ceremony.
To find out more about the Olympic campaign – and to register your support – visit www.netballolympicbid.com.