Please reinstate the NUS Extra Student 10% Discount which they removed without warning on 30/06/2014 yet is still being advertised as available to students and  NUS Extra card holders.

When I presented my cards I was treated like a self entitled idiot at my local store and asked why I didn't know that it had ended. As a mature adult I can handle this kind of behaviour but a younger person might have been deeply upset especially if they were depending upon the 10% discount to be able to pay for their evening meal. What was even more confusing was that evening I received an email from the NUS advertising offers from non other than the COOP! The next day I called the regional office and was advised that there was insufficient take up by students in the area!

I disagree - The NUS make a point of advertising the COOP's special offers and this is purely down to someone deciding that they no longer want to offer this discount to students.

For my complaint I received a £5 voucher, for which I believe I am supposed to be grateful but in reality means nothing because it does NOT HELP the 65,000 plus student population of Birmingham! That £5 was used to buy food for the food bank so prominently displayed in your stores.

Therefore I would URGE all students, parents and interested parties who want this benefit to be reinstated to sign this petition. Other COOPs are providing this benefit in other areas of the United Kingdom and aren't having any issues. I was welcomed in another store forming part of a different Cooperative group without any hassle and given 10% off my shopping, so if that particular Cooperative are happy to help their student population then what exactly is the problem here?

Remember we have a voice, and we have a choice, in my case there is a competitor opened up right next door to my local store, I can shop there but your son or daughter might not have that option.

Remember:

>>Students are struggling enough financially as it is, offering this and then reneging is a low thing to do, especially without warning!

>>They haven't even had the decency to advise the NUS that they've done this see  http://www.nus.org.uk/en/nus-extra/discounts/coming-soon-10-off-your-grocery-shopping-at-the-co-operative-food-only-with-nus-extra/

>>When this was first launched it was groundbreaking and welcomed by students -http://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/nus-and-the-co-operative-food-launch-ground-breaking-partnership/

>>Over 65,000 students, that's a lot of footfall in your stores to be turning away, can you afford this given your recent profit and loss sheet?

>>The Cooperative Society in it's truest form was a society founded for the people by the people, do you really want us to leave you?

Personally I don't care about the goodwill £5 voucher you sent me, but what I do care about is that the COOP took this decision without consulting student bodies and without warning the NUS.

I would like them to reconsider their actions and to reinstate the offer as originally specified.

Thank you and please sign the petition, help us to get the 10% discount back for Students.