Sunshine Co-operative is a not-for-profit social enterprise bringing healthy, local food products and produce to people in Sunderland. This is done by engaging local people through a wellbeing programme, food-centred community events, and selling local and ethical products at its shop on High Street West.
The concept for Sunshine Co-operative was inspired by its two founders’ food experiences while living overseas. They experienced an area that thrived on market places where organic produce was abundant and the food industry supported local communities and boosted the local economy. On returning to live in Sunderland, they found that the local market place had limited access to food options and many people were restricted to local supermarkets. There was an apparent lack of understanding within the wider community around knowing where food comes from and the availability of other food options.
Sunshine Co-operative believes that one way to tackle the challenges facing Sunderland, such as unemployment, poor health and community cohesion, is by strengthening the local food system. Hendon and the East End of Sunderland, where Sunshine focuses its work, struggles with:
The highest levels of self-harm in the country
The highest levels of drug and alcohol misusers in the city
The oldest population profile in the city
The 2nd highest level of obesity in the city
Racial tensions – EDL stronghold and a large BAME population.
Today, Sunshine Co-operative has a grocery store, an online shop, a weekly local market stall, and a local veg box scheme. The store is used to run Sunshine Co-operative’s wellbeing and employment programme, the Sunshine Wellbeing Academy. This aims to provide training and work experience for disadvantaged groups to feel ready to enter the workplace and increase their independence. The Academy also increases participation in the local food system, as it creates opportunities for people to grow produce, learn about local suppliers, support with product development, and understand how a local food business runs.
A more holistic approach to employment training was identified as a gap in services in Sunderland, therefore Academy participants are supported to develop their “softer” skills (speaking to customers, time management etc.), “harder” skills (such as using the till, health and safety) as well as to build on their interests. Participants can understand different career pathways, with the aim that they feel ready to enter further training or education to reach this.
Sunshine is keen to grow the local food industry in Sunderland and is developing its own product lines, starting with kombucha. Kombucha was chosen as it not currently in large supply in Sunderland, as well as being a superfood and an exciting product to offer to the community. Creating in-house products offers a different and unique experience for Academy participants, who can be involved in the production process, including product development, marketing and advertising, as well as tasks such as canning and labelling. The line of products will also be a great opportunity to market the organisation more widely. Sunshine is passionate about increasing the number of locally made food and drink products to grow the local economy, as this is a gap in the region, with Sunderland listed in the lowest 10 cities in the UK for business start-ups.
The Foundation is supporting Sunshine Co-operative with a grant towards its CEO’s salary, which will provide stability to the organisation whilst is focuses on business planning and project development, such as the kombucha product. This work will be done in partnership with the Foundation, to enable Sunshine to expand its Wellbeing Programme offer and strengthen organisational resilience.
