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 Leek'.

Today, we caught up with Lynne McConnell, the Member Pioneer for Leek. Co-op's Member Pioneers bring together its Members, colleagues and Local Causes to help its communities.

According to Lynne, a Member Pioneer's job can vary slightly depending on the needs of their community and their own personalities.

"But essentially," she adds, "a Member Pioneer is someone who offers practical advice and help to people and groups, particularly non-profit organisations, putting them in touch with people or organisations who could help them to achieve their community-focussed goals.

"A Member Pioneer also brings together Co-op members, colleagues and local causes, and the overall goal is to make communities a better place to work, play, live and learn."

To be an effective Member Pioneer, Lynne believes that: "You need to like people and be confident at networking, but mainly, have a passion for helping others.

"That's the key, I think. That, and being organised - it's only a four-hour-a-week role, so having clear goals about what you want to do each month is super helpful."

Part of Lynne's work involves offering different community organisations support with their funding efforts.

"We get in touch with different local causes," Lynne explains, "tell them who we are and ask them if they need anything, then think about ways we can help, whether that be a 'have you met this person?' or a 'have you tried applying to this for funding?' and so on."

"I'm particularly experienced in arts-related activities," she says, "but I'm getting to know more about local organisations that aren't arts focussed and trying to think about how I can use my experience to help those organisations and individuals.

"It's been difficult over the past year, with COVID, and with trying to grasp what can be done and what can't. I've really enjoyed getting to know some local groups that I didn't know about previously, and getting to meet them, and telling them, 'I'm here, let me know if there's anything I can do to help you!'

"I also did some scouting for an exciting feature film a couple of months ago, and did my best in getting the film production company in touch with local places to use as a film set, so with my Pioneer hat on, I thought, if I can convince the team to use this space, it will really benefit that organisation, giving them well-needed money to do some refurbishment."

As well as helping to source funding, Lynne makes use of Co-op's community assets, including Co-operate, an initiative which helps local groups to promote themselves and the great work that they are doing.

"Co-operate is a great platform," Lynne says. "It basically allows a group to add their activity or organisation so that they can get in touch with more local people, helping them to source volunteers and/or materials and generally support others.

"The Community Wellbeing Index is amazing too; it helps you see what people in your area want and need.

"I used Co-operate to help plan an outdoor carol singing activity last Christmas, which was really lovely and much-needed in terms of bringing a bit of joy to the town at the time."

During her time as a Member Pioneer, Lynne has especially enjoyed getting to know lots of different local organisations, and meeting lots of lovely people, and she can be contacted at [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.