Hitchin Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We will be profiling some of these businesses and organisations regularly in a feature called 'Up Close in Hitchin'.

We caught up with Geraldine Strohm, the Member Pioneer Coordinator (MPC) for Hitchin Co-op Funeralcare in Ickleford.

"Co-op Member Pioneers are catalysts, connectors and communicators," says Geraldine. "Co-op Member Pioneers listen to the needs of their local communities and they help find solutions," she adds, explaining: "Whether it is with fairer access to food, mental wellbeing or opportunities for young people. Every Member Pioneer supports in different ways depending on the needs of their community."

Co-op Member Pioneers have helped coordinate and deliver food to those most in need during the pandemic, while also aiding the setting-up of community fridges in partnership with Hubbub.

Whether it be Member Pioneers supporting local mosques in Luton with reusable water bottles during Ramadan or setting-up bereavement support groups in liaison with Funeralcare colleagues and local branches of Mind, Co-op Member Pioneers make great things happen in our communities.

Busy Geraldine runs two teams of Member Pioneers across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire as well as north London and parts of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire – all offering a wealth of support to their communities.

"My Member Pioneers are an amazing bunch of community experts," Geraldine says, adding: "They work four hours a week in their local communities connecting Co-op Members and customers with their stores, Funeralcares and local causes, and are available to work with other groups and individuals in the community.

"Through our Membership we support local groups and local causes with funding from our Local Community Fund (LCF), and work with local good causes to apply. Three successful causes from each community are chosen."

"We then work with them to connect with our Co-op Food stores and Funeralcare colleagues and Members, spreading the word about their project, in-store and on social media," Geraldine explains, underlining: "We listen to their needs and help connect them with solutions."

One such thriving scheme is Co-op working towards zero food waste. Foodshare is the partnership between food stores and local causes who need regular donations of good quality food, thereby extending its food journey beyond the store, ensuring it doesn't go to landfill. Hitchin Food Rescue Hub (HFRH) is one of the best examples of a Foodshare partner.

"I was a Member Pioneer for two years and I've been a Member Pioneer Coordinator for nearly another two years, and I love it," says Geraldine.

"I was doing lots of work locally with the Rotary Club and I thought this was a great way to do more and be paid for doing it too," she explains, adding: "It has opened so many doors for me and I love seeing how I can help motivate and mentor others now too."

If you have a passion for your community and a genuine desire to make a difference, why not apply?

The Co-op is open to anyone who wants to do good in their community, and the Co-op are keen to encourage people who represent their diverse community to become involved.

Becoming a Member Pioneer and applying online takes very little time. Readers can become a member pioneer by applying at communityspirit.co.uk.

As Geraldine says: "Each Member Pioneer has their own motivations and skill sets and I love to see them progress and grow.

"I love the way we help so many people in the community - never more so than during the pandemic. I love the Co-op, its values and ethics and its innovation on sustainability.

"It is certainly like no other retailer I've worked for before - where its core principles of equity and fairness are just as strong now as they were when we were founded in 1844."

If any local groups or organisations would like to get in contact with Geraldine, this can be done by emailing [email protected].

If you've got any ideas on how Co-op could help your community, or want to know what Co-op is doing near you then contact the Co-op Member Pioneer Co-ordinator for your area, who will then put you in touch with your local Member Pioneer.

Become a Member Pioneer. Apply online at communityspirit.co.uk.