The H & Jodie’s team has been a major part of its community for many years but recognising that this year has been a very challenging for many families, they devised a seven-point plan to tackle key issues in their area.
1. Support Networks: Community groups often provide emotional and practical support. This can include everything from a listening ear to help with finding resources like food banks or financial assistance. The team helped over 15 different food banks with donations and funding. They have delivered over 3000 cases of food to these causes and donated over £12500 in direct funding to help them meet their extra demand. In addition to this they have also financially helped with other organisations such as the Thomas project to the tune of £2000, this project caters towards helping families find emergency housing, domestic abuse victims and homelessness. The team also has the mental health & well being bus outside the store bi-weekly, this initiative helps signpost individuals to NHS/council resources. By providing them a space outside the store and a regular pitch they have enabled over 150 people to get the help they need to get themselves back on track.
2. Resource Sharing: In tight times, communities can organise resource sharing initiatives such as community spaces, clothing swaps, or shared transportation. This can alleviate some of the financial pressure on individuals. The team has given up a part of their storage space open a store front and refitted it to be used as a community space. This is actively used by local groups for a plethora of great initiatives, these now range from a cinema club, bat and chat ping pong sessions, weekly litter picking, councillors’ sessions, meetings with the water supplier and even an MP’s surgery. This space has allowed the community to engage with local stakeholders and services in a way that has never been done in convenience and the store has now been embedded within the community
3. Collective Bargaining: Communities can leverage collective buying power to negotiate better rates for services or bulk purchases, which can reduce individual costs. The team has great buying power as a successful store, but this does not benefit the community if they don’t use that power for a greater good. “We offer procurement services for smaller charities/food banks. We actively offer to assess their purchases or cost and offer our free advice on how they can make cost savings or simply buy better. Where we are cheaper, we will also often directly supply them at cost. We have helped over 10 organisations this way and are active suppliers of two foods backs on a permanent basis at cost. This is just a simple maneuverer which put our business acumen to use in a beneficial way for the community.”
4. Information Exchange: Local networks often share valuable information about where to find help, how to manage budgets, or how to access government support schemes. The team identified that awareness of existing services within their community were really low. They specifically targeted key areas such as citizens advice, mental health buses and Councillors/MPs to come in and highlight this. The results were an increased engagement of services and hundreds of people being helped.
5. Celebratory Events: The store’s team has set up and funded over four events outside the store in 2024. For their annual Fun Day, they collaborated with local musicians/DJs, street food vendors, bouncy castle entertainment providers, FMCG brands, local authorities & community stakeholders to have a huge celebration outside the store. This is fully funded by the store and free for all. They then had their annual Christmas event, which also includes a Santa’s grotto & the local Pelsall Ladies Choir attend and sing carols outside.
6. Social Connection: Isolation can be a significant issue for the elderly especially in this more modern technology-based world compounded by a cost-of-living crisis & financial strain it can often even kill. They identified that community involvement helps maintain social connections, which can be crucial for mental health and well-being.
We have bought a large TV, chairs and supply the snacks for a great cinema club that happens bi-weekly. The Cinema club takes a vote on what film to watch and lots of members of the community come together to simply all watch a great movie together!
7. Security & safety: Communities, fundamentally need to be safe and secure for them to grow and prosper. Lack of said security will only lead to many good efforts being lost. The team worked hand in hand with Walsall Council and Local councillors to launch a collaborative project called Project Phoenix. The project was the Company Chairman’s idea initially to reduce crime in the community.
Project Phoenix is a community action group committed to working together to help address antisocial behaviour in the Walsall area. The group is trialling a multi-agency partnership between Walsall Council and RG8 Security masterminded by Harjit Singh.
Funded by the council and supported by Neighbourhood Watch, the security operation patrol areas of high activity, such as school bus drop-offs, after school time. They partly act as a deterrent for any activity, but they also speak to young people about any challenges they may be facing and direct them to local organisations that may be able to help them - such as the MLSS boxing club and other sporting and training organisations. As part of the project, H & Jodie’s have accessed the latest round of the MADL Heart of the Community fund. So far, the retailer has used £15,000 for three local causes including two boxing clubs with the aim of giving young people activities to keep them active.
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