sponsorship

The Co-operative signs championship star to Rugby League Ambassador line-up

The Co-operative, sponsors of The Co-operative Championships and Conference, and Official Partner of The RFL, has today [17 March] announced that Jamie Rooney has signed alongside Paul Sculthorpe to form their 2010 ambassador line-up.

Now a full-time player in the Co-operative Championships, Jamie – the former Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Super League player and Featherstone Rovers playmaker – is making his trademark high-scoring impact on the leagues, helping 2009 Champions Barrow Raiders defend their title.

Rooney (30), who still holds the record for the most points scored in a single season for Featherstone Rovers, joins one of the most recognisable names in the sport and the only player to be named Man of Steel in consecutive seasons, Paul Sculthorpe in the new look line-up for 2010.

Paul Sculthorpe (32) played over 250 times for St Helens scoring 113 tries and winning four Super League Grand Finals, four Challenge Cups and two World Club Challenges before his retirement in 2008. ‘Scully’ has signed for a second year as a ‘Good for Everyone’ ambassador for The Co-operative.

Capped four times for England Rooney, the Barrow Raiders Stand-off and himself one of the most recognisable names in The
Co-operative Championships, will work alongside ‘Scully’ as a Co-operative ambassador to promote rugby league and its core values.

Jamie Rooney commented: “I’m thrilled to be signing with The Co-operative as an ambassador this season.  I believe it’s a real privilege to assist them in spreading the ‘Good For Everyone’ message in Rugby League. As a player I see that the sport has so many great attributes and I’m delighted to help share these around.”

Paul Sculthorpe added: “It was an easy decision for me to sign for a second year since my retirement. The Co-operative is a perfect match for Rugby League and it’s a pleasure to support a proactive sponsor and play my part.

“Rugby League has been such a huge part of my life whilst playing; it is natural for me to extend my association even now I am retired. I feel as fit now as I did when I was playing so helping promote the game hand in hand with The Co-operative is an ideal association for all parties and I look forward to the year ahead.”

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.

England miss out against Australia in The Co-operative International Test Series

The Co-operative International Netball Series returned in February with England facing the No.1 team in the world, Australia.For the first time, the world's top netball teams headed to the Echo Arena in Liverpool as well as once again returning back to the The 02 Arena in London and the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham.

Following the sell out crowds at February 2009's England v Jamaica series, the demand for tickets was high and the atmosphere was electric at all three venues. The England v Australia game was an imperative competition for both sides of the northern and southern hemisphere as essential world ranking points were up for grabs. Both teams demonstrated the ability to think on their feet, showcasing desirable moves and technical skill.

It was a great spectacle for all netball fans and was the perfect opportunity to introduce new spectators to the sport – whether they made it to the game or watched the action on Sky Sports.

Following a gruelling weekend training camp the squad was confirmed and no doubt the recent games against The Co-operative Netball Superleague teams helped the selection process, allowing Coach Sue Hawkins to test players in different positions as well as develop their on court relationships.

Karen Atkinson co-captained the squad, along with Sonia Mkoloma and the experienced pair contibuted to the England cause and helped deliver some great skill and performances by the whole squad.  England were victorious in the first test in Liverpool, 41-40 but unfortunately Australia came back strong in the remaining matches in Nottingham and London to take the series 2-1.
 

 

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.