Small trolleys, big futures as Co-op opens Play Shop at Eureka!

14 May 2026

Co-op has launched a new partnership with Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax, West Yorkshire, opening a newly branded Co-op Play Shop designed to help children and families learn about shopping, food and sustainability through play.

The Co‑op Play Shop is located within Eureka!’s Living and Working Together Gallery and is aimed at children up to the age of eleven. It encourages young visitors to take on the role of shoppers, choosing items from the shelves, using mini shopping trolleys and checking out at self‑service tills. Alongside this, children can also try simple shop floor tasks such as shelf stacking, helping bring everyday food shopping experiences to life in a fun and interactive way.

The Play Shop is supported by a series of videos, with voiceovers recorded by pupils from a Year 5 class at Co‑op Academy Beckfield, who will have the opportunity to see their work first‑hand during an upcoming educational visit to Eureka! The involvement of local pupils reflects the project’s aim of creating meaningful learning opportunities for schools.

The partnership supports Co-op’s social value commitment to Access to a Sustainable Future, helping children understand sustainability in practical ways. Through simple signage and digital content in the Play Shop, children and families are encouraged to explore topics such as reducing food waste, sustainable diets and energy use, helping them understand how everyday choices can make a difference.

Alongside the Play Shop, Co-op and Eureka! will deliver a programme of school and family engagement activities, including themed events and informal sessions focused on sustainability and careers. These activities are designed to reflect Eureka!’s ethos of learning through play and shared family experiences.

To celebrate the partnership and help make visits more accessible for families, Eureka! is offering Co-op members* a launch offer of 20% off admission to Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, valid from now until 23 October 2026.

Heather Thomas, Group Property & Sustainability Director at Co-op, said:

“At Co-op, we believe sustainability should feel relevant and accessible from an early age. Working with Eureka! allows us to bring those ideas to life in a playful and practical setting, helping children explore how everyday actions connect to the wider world.”

Eureka! The National Children’s Museum has welcomed families to its Halifax site for more than thirty years and attracts around 300,000 visitors each year. The museum focuses on learning through play, helping children aged zero to eleven build confidence and curiosity through hands on experiences.

Leigh-Anne Stradeski, Eureka! Chief Executive, said:

“The Play Shop partnership reflects a shared commitment from Co-op and Eureka! to creating meaningful opportunities for learning, supporting social mobility and helping children build understanding through play.”

The project has been made possible thanks to the support of a number of partners. Sign Solutions provided British Sign Language interpretation for the videos, alongside CTS and Omega Signs, who supported delivery of the installation.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The 20% admission offer is available to Co op Group members only, who will be required to provide valid proof of membership.
• The offer can be redeemed by entering the code COOP20 via Eureka!’s booking journey.
• The offer is valid from 25th April until 23 October 2026.
• Co op Group membership costs £1 and membership terms and conditions apply: www.co-operative.coop/membership
• Entry is subject to Eureka!’s Terms and Conditions https://play.eureka.org.uk/tcs/

About Co-op

Co-op Group is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, operating across food retail, funerals, insurance and legal services. Owned by around 7.2 million active member-owners, Co-op exists to meet their needs and champion the causes they care about.

With more than 2,300 food stores, 800 funeral homes and a wholesale business supplying around 8,000 additional outlets, Co-op employs 53,000 colleagues and generates annual revenues of over £11 billion. It is a recognised leader in ethical business and community-led programmes, creating long-term value for members and communities across the UK.

About Eureka!

Based in Halifax, next to the main railway station, Eureka! is the UK's only national children's museum, dedicated to making learning fun for children. Through hundreds of hands-on exhibits across six interactive zones, Eureka! inspires a love of learning and discovery in children aged 0-11.

Since opening in 1992, Eureka! has brought smiles to the faces of more than 8 million visitors.

During that time, it has attracted £22 million of capital investment, employed more than 2500 people, won 60 local, national and international awards and changed the face of the sector by spearheading a more immersive and interactive approach to traditional museums throughout Britain.

Eureka! opened a second attraction Eureka! Science + Discovery on the Wirral in November 2022.

Eureka! is a charity which is entirely dependent on earned revenue to sustain operations and ensure families from all backgrounds can benefit from the play and learning opportunities offered.