Central Co-op celebrates local ‘Co-op Hero’ Tami Evans for bringing communities together

Posted by lauryn mellor | Published: 26/06/2025

As part of Co-op Fortnight 2025 (23rd June – 6th July), Central Co-op is celebrating the everyday heroes behind the scenes who make a big difference in their communities. Including Tami Evans, the Society’s Member and Community Relations Officer for the Eastern region, who has been recognised as one of this year’s ‘Co-op Heroes’.

This year’s Co-op Fortnight theme, #CoopHeroes, shines a spotlight on the inspiring stories of people whose lives have been made better by co‑ops, and individuals in co‑ops making other people’s lives better. These stories are living proof that co-operators make a huge positive difference in the world - and Tami Evans is one of them.

Tami supports Central Co-op Members and local communities across Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire - but her impact goes far beyond geography.

After working in marketing for Wiltshire Farm Foods, Tami made a leap during the pandemic to take on a temporary role at Central Co-op and never looked back. “It felt like fate,” she says. “This job popped up on Facebook, and I took a gamble. I’ve been here four years now and it’s so much more inclusive, I get to interact with so many people from different backgrounds and generations. The community links I have now are amazing and are growing so quickly - something I’m very proud of.”

From intergenerational storytelling in Lowestoft to cooking classes with young refugees in Peterborough, Tami’s approach is rooted in compassion, creativity and genuine connection. “I’m not sat behind a desk directing things, I’m there and I’m present. That’s how I think Members feel seen and heard,” she says.

One standout project saw Tami supporting a cooking course with HELP (Helping Empower Lives in Peterborough), bringing together young refugees to cook, eat and share stories. “They opened up about their journeys in such a powerful way. It was emotional, moving and joyful,” she says.

In Lowestoft, Tami worked with Featherbed Tales and local schools to bring together elders and children to swap stories and inspire creative writing. “One evening, after everyone else had gone home, an older gentleman shared how he used to look after the horses that pulled the Co-op milk floats,” Tami recalls. “With a cheeky grin and a twinkle in his eye, he shared how he’d sometimes ride them in the fields before putting them back in the stables.” Another man told the children about his life building boats and even brought in photos to show them. “The children were fascinated,” Tami says. “They went on to write and record a story called Brian the Boat Captain - it was magical to see that connection across generations.”

As part of Central Co-op’s commitment to accessibility, Members receive free access to the Featherbed Tales recording platform, helping families preserve memories across generations.

For Tami, being part of Central Co-op is about bringing people together to create something meaningful. “It’s almost like we’re creating our own family - communities coming together, having a voice, tackling isolation, educating and showcasing all the great benefits of being part of a co-operative. Members often find us through community events before they even start regularly shopping with us - and when they realise how much we do, they want to be part of it.”

Reflecting on her work, she adds: “I’ve got a real drive to make sure everyone feels involved - it’s a passion I have and there’s such a pleasure in the job I do. If you don’t put everything into it, you won’t get the best outputs for our communities. We do things a bit differently in the East – we’re creative, collaborative and constantly learning. But none of it’s just me, it’s a real team effort with our Member and Community Council, colleagues and the MCROs from other regions.”

The celebration comes during the UN’s International Year of Co-operatives, recognising the role co-operatives play in building fairer, more sustainable societies - something Tami’s work embodies every day.

For more information on Central Co-op and the part it plays within communities in the East, head to the centralcoop.co.uk/. Details on becoming a Member can be found at Members.coop.

ENDS

For press information

Press Office
pressoffice@centralcoop.co.uk

Lauryn Mellor, PR and Media Specialist at Central Co-op
lauryn.mellor@centralcoop.co.uk
07385 048004