Job swap to build pots of money

Local Co-op Tamar View Store Manager Val Newman traded in her day job recently to join the Midas Homes team on site at Queen Street, Devonport for an afternoon of hard labour.

Val undertook the challenge to raise money for purchasing sports equipment for young people in Barne Barton. Val has already raised over £500 from sponsorship, with Midas Homes donating a further £200 and Midas Homes staff, sub contractors and DCR donating £200.

Val said: “I thought it would be easier than managing a busy store, but that certainly wasn’t the case. I had in mind an afternoon of making tea and site banter instead I was set challenges including building and rendering walls!”

Midas Homes is working with Devon and Cornwall Housing Association who manage a lot of the properties in the Barne Barton area which makes this challenge very relevant to the fundraising campaign.

Val added: “The Midas Homes team were friendly and went out of their way to support our campaign making the afternoon a real success.

“The community spirit in Barne Barton is fantastic and the area is improving all the time especially with the new primary school. As a community retailer, Plymouth & South West Co-operative Society is proud to be supporting this initiative and raising money to give young people in the area more opportunities.”

Eric Doel, Site Manager for Midas Homes said: “The whole afternoon was good fun but also raised a lot of money for a good cause. Val certainly through herself into the challenge and we’re pleased to have been involved.”

Your Local Community Co-op Tamar View is working in conjunction with Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and the Positive Future initiative. The equipment will be used with the aim to encourage young people who are experiencing difficulties in managing their feelings and emotions, often leading to aggression, angry, violent and offending behaviour to play sports and get involved in sustainable local activities – i.e. ‘Changing behaviour to prevent crime’.