Cornmill Shopping Centre are proud to have been awarded the Community Initiative of the Year – North at the SCEPTRE Awards for our Cuppa with a Copper initiative.
The SCEPTRE Awards celebrate excellence across the UK’s shopping centre industry; winning this award places Cornmill Shopping Centre among the very best retail destinations in the country. The award winning Cuppa with a Copper initiative was developed through a partnership between Cornmill Shopping Centre Manager, Zoe France, and PCSO Ben Holmes, with the aim of increasing police visibility and creating a safer environment for people in Darlington.
What started as a simple opportunity for local people to chat with police officers over a cup of tea has grown into a powerful community initiative. Cuppa with a Copper creates a welcoming space for conversations and has helped to strengthen relationships between local authorities, policing teams and the wider Darlington community.
We are incredibly proud that our Cuppa with a Copper initiative has evolved into a collaborative, multi award winning initiative and would like to thank all of our fantastic partners at Durham Constabulary and Darlington Borough Council for their continued support in making these sessions possible. Since Cuppa with a Copper launched in 2025, it has grown massively and now involves a range of organisations including Esquires Coffee, Community Safety Managers and Civic Enforcement Teams, The Youth Juice Team, Trading Standards and representatives from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office.
The success of Cuppa with a Copper during 2026 is only the beginning for us. We will continue to host regular sessions for many years to come. Visit this page for more information on the upcoming Cuppa with a Copper dates.