East of England Co-op

The Co-Op Juniors was set up in 1942, to take children’s minds off war and the corporate association continues to this day.

Co-Op Juniors Theatre Company is the largest amateur theatre group in the UK, based in Ipswich, Suffolk. With a heritage spanning over 75 years the ‘Juniors’, have performed in all of East Suffolk’s top venues and are currently a festive fixture at the world-renowned Snape Maltings Concert Hall with their Christmas Spectacular!

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The professional production values of this amateur group offer children and young people across Suffolk the opportunity to develop performance and life skills whilst taking part in stunning musical theatre productions. Every year up to 100 young performers take to the stage in three professional standard shows. In addition to this, 500 children and young people, take part in the academy classes held year-round in seven Suffolk locations both urban and rural, which then feed into the Juniors shows. The Co-Operative, family ethos brings together the whole community, engaging multiple generations of the same family throughout the crew and cast of the company. Many of the Juniors’ performers have gone on to international performance careers including Gary Avis – Principal Senior Ballet Master and Principal Character Artist of The Royal Ballet Company.

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The brief from the East of England Co-Op

To work with the veteran volunteer management to create the Juniors first fundraising strategy. To take stock of the financial footing of the organisation, to create a fundraising plan to deliver swift returns and to implement the first, capacity building elements of that plan thus creating a breathing space in which to build a five-year business plan for this historic and valuable, community asset. Their first, successful £50,000 on-line appeal was run over Christmas.