Thurrock Nub News and the Co-op are teaming up in an exciting new partnership that will bring community news and events to everyone in the borough.

COMMUNITIES in Thurrock are about to feel the benefit and impact of an innovative new partnership between Nub News and the Co-op – two organisations united in a belief and drive to support local people and their welfare.

Thurrock Nub News has already established itself as the area's leading local news site, now - in partnership with the Co-op - we are going to drill down even deeper into the local community in an exciting new partnership at a time when community has never meant more.

We will be uniting to bring you more local community news and features about how to actively improve the communities we both serve, helping lift spirits and well-being as well as bringing you all the information you need to know.

Starting today, Thurrock Nub News will feature a new section reflecting everything that is going on that touches the lives of local residents. It's called Thurrock Co-op Community Chat. It's a service that will be deeply committed to reporting on the grass-roots events in our communities and, in conjunction with the Co-op, we will create more local platforms where people can report on all the great things going on and capture all the amazing local stories happening every day.

The Co-op is the largest consumer co-operative in the UK and is owned by more than 4.6 million active members. Its business ethos is built around a set of principles that promote fairness, equality, honesty and community - four values Karl Hancock, as CEO, has built into Nub News.

"There is a huge synergy between what we are trying to do with Nub News and what the Co-op has been doing since 1844," he says. "We may be new compared to the Co-op but we share the same principles and are working at forging a natural partnership that supports everyone across the communities we serve.

"We involve local people in everything we do and we treat them as the real owners of our news sites. We are privileged to be able to reflect their lives and report on the things that affect them.

"That is exactly what the Co-op espouses - local ownership and co-operation. The Co-op has always been community focused wanting to help and support local people."

As well as publishing news from our reporters, we are really hoping you will get involved and residents will "Nub" details of local news stories, community initiatives and events directly via the unique 'Nub it' button. This will allow quick and speedy uploads direct from the people involved. All articles will be checked by a journalist before going being published. Trust is at the core of what we do.

"Our new Co-op Community Chat will be the garden gate over which we all used to chatter. No story is too small to be interesting, no event not important to us and we will seek out the unsung success stories and the phenomenal work that local people do in Thurrock," added Karl.

The editorial team in Thurrock will be working with the Co-op Member Pioneers, as well as colleagues from Co-op Funeralcare homes and at Co-op stores to highlight the good work going on. We will also be introducing you to the local causes benefitting from every member who shops at Co-op.

Last year the Co-op delivered £17m to more than 4,000 local causes, thanks to its members. In Thurrock, across the many Co-op outlets from Aveley in the west to Corringham in the east that cash has already helped a long list local causes. You can read about some of them here

When Co-op members make purchases on Co-op own brand products and services, one per cent of what they spend goes to support a local cause through its Local Community Fund. Members can choose which of the nominated local causes they wish to support.

"Now more than ever we need to help bring people together" - Tom Lakeman of the Co-op

Thurrock Nub News will be featuring those causes and the people who work within and support them – showing just how much they contribute to the local community.

Tens of thousands of people in Thurrock are already regularly using Nub News as their source of news and Nub News has been very much to the fore as the community has met the challenge of coronavirus head on. We are now really happy to be able to extend our community connections and support through this new section.

"It's horrendous that we have a crisis like this, but it has shown just what an important part of local communities a dedicated online local newspaper can be" said Mr Hancock.

"Now, with the help and support of the Co-op we can do even more. We will be reaching out even further into the communities we serve and promoting standards and values of service - just like the Co-op - of the very highest quality.

"The Co-op was built by every member doing their bit. Nub News shares that vision. Everyone in our community can contribute and make a difference. Just as the Co-op relies on its members, Nub News will give residents the platform they need to play a full part in our community."

Tom Lakeman, Senior Marketing Manager at Co-op said: "Community lies at the heart of Co-op and now more than ever we need to help bring people together to support each other. Whether it's helping our customers to get vital supplies or just connecting them with someone to talk to, the Co-op is continuing to serve its customers and communities and it's great partnerships such as this that will help us reach those that need it."