Sandbach 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 Sandbach'. Co-op Member Pioneer for Sandbach, Arnie Laing, wasn't just clowning around when he donned his latest guise for the charity Mind. Shoppers at the Co-op's Middlewich Road store were greeted by the fun-loving grandfather-of-four dressed as a clown.

The avid supporter of local causes from Elworth, who dressed as an Easter bunny for the same cause earlier this year, greeted some shoppers with pretend buckets of water. At Christmas, he pulled out another costume from his wardrobe, this time Santa Claus, delivering as always, a good dose of fun and laughter to raise funds.

But Arnie's special costume appearance was no joke – this time it was to mark the final day of a raffle at the Middlewich Road store to raise money for Mind. The charity estimates that around one in four people, that's around 14 million people a year – experience a mental health problem. The Co-op is working in Partnership with Mind, SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) and Inspire to raise £8 million to deliver new services and ensure people receive the help they need.

The other three Co-op stores in the area – Saxon Cross, Lawton Way and The Hill, have also been doing their bit for this latest fundraising push. Arnie, who took up his role in September last year, has been using his extensive local network to benefit local causes and the wider Sandbach community.

Although his costume-changing roles provide plenty of fun and laughter for the local community, Arnie's aim is serious – to drive funds up and create awareness of the Co-op's on-going mission.

He is delighted that his collection of costumes can be used to aid this cause and bring a little fun and laughter to the occasion. "I'm quite used to dressing up in these costumes for charity but it's getting more difficult to get people to recognise me," he joked. "To be able to get out there and make these appearances is key to what I'm about."

Member Pioneers can be colleagues or members of the community. They create local action plans that mean Co-op can provide support at a local level. They work very closely with the Local Community Fund recipients which are local causes that are supported by the local Co-op Members.

They can be charities, local community groups or food banks. Before retiring, Arnie had worked in financial services for 40 years. Since then, he has devoted his time to volunteering at a number of organisations, including as a regional ambassador for Marie Curie, a governor at a local school, chairman of Sandbach UCA and as a member of Dementia Friendly.

But it's not just Member Pioneers who can boost the good work of the Co-op – shoppers can too. When Co-op Members buy own-brand products and services, 2p for every £1 spent goes to support local causes and community organisations.

You can contact Arnie 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.