A fantastic Time to Talk day was organised by Kath Hendrick, Engagement Coordinator and Wellbeing Champion at the Coop, with her colleagues at the Plymouth Depot and out in the community at Ridgeway and Elburton!

Within the depot, the team discussed what they’d like to do for the day and decided to play pool and darts. They thought this would be a great opportunity to get the team together, connect over a game, and have some fun! It was also important for depot managers to get involved to ensure Kath had plenty of support for Time to Talk Day, so she could visit local shops and connect with their customers.

“We also received conversation starters from Coop/Time to Talk, a pack of cards, and other information to support conversations throughout the day – as well as a £5 gift card, which was spent on sweets for the team to enjoy!”

As the team had their Time to Talk Day at the depot, Kath engaged with the community in Ridgeway and Elburton with the support of a local cause that Coop supports, The Dementia Friendly Parishes around the Yealm. Their goal is to make a big difference in the lives of those living with dementia as well as their families. With that,

“Getting involved with the Dementia Friendly Parishes to support the day will be important because dementia can affect us all in different ways, especially carers who may be suffering from depression, stress, and anxiety. We’d also use the time to provide support leaflets to those who need it. We’ve also got a safe space for a cuppa to have a deeper conversation.”

On the day, the team in the Coop depot had a great time blowing off some steam with a few games as well as engaging in some conversations with Kath and the depot managers. In the community, Kath was joined by Claire from the Dementia Friendly Parishes around the Yealm to share support and conversations about dementia. All in all, they all had a brilliant time with their colleagues, customers and members and found the day important to share, support and connect to aid mental wellbeing.

Thanks for sharing your amazing work with us Kath! We look forward to seeing more from you and The Coop in the future! If you have something to share, why not get in touch with us at [email protected] today.