Events

Knowing how much politicians like to talk, especially front bench ones, I'm wondering how much of this hour will be given over to listening and discussion? Is there detailed agenda available?

I would like to invite you to a Co-op Party event for members of Co-operatives

Meet Preet Gill Labour and Co-op MP and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development of the United Kingdom and also discuss the Co-operative Bill in Parliament

The Co-op Party is holding an hour long zoom to example Co-op activity by Preet Gill a Co-op MP, and then ask for Co-operators to inform and support a bill currently being put through Parliament to protect Co-operatives from de-mutualisation.

It may seem a contradiction that Preet will be talking about Co-operative work being done or pursued Internationally, for us then to talk about UK Co-operative legislation, But Preet is a brilliant example of how Co-operation is being promoted in Parliament. It would be great for her to hear from a sector of the UK Co-op Movement that is underrepresented , well pretty much everywhere. We can then discuss the Co-op Bill in an open forum.

Despite the unprecedented challenges on the economy and families living in the UK over the last three years, people on this group know Co-operatives have shown themselves more resilient than other types of businesses.

Yet legislation still needs to be passed to protect Co-operatives and give Co-ops a level playing field to operate on.

Current law leaves co-ops and mutuals too vulnerable to asset-stripping. Co-operative MP Sir Mark Hendrick has introduced the Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill to Parliament. This new Bill would help to protect co-operatives and mutuals by letting them opt-in to an "asset lock", so assets built up by members over generations cannot be sold off and must retain their original mutual purpose. https://party.coop/coopsbill

While there is a wait for the Bill to make its way through Parliament, the Co-op Party needs and wants your input. They would love to hear from you what you think can and should be done to support Co-operatives at least to the same level the private sector is.

The Co-op Party exists to promote co-operation in all walks of Government, with their 26 MP’s ; 11 members of the Scottish Parliament, 16 Senedd Members, 5 Metro Mayors and over 1,200 local Co-operative Councillors across the UK.

It would be great to hear from the most radical, innovative and most independent group of Co-operators, in the Co-op Movement.

Any questions you can contact me on my works email j.boyle@party.coop

Any concerns about this overtly political posting you can contact me on my personal email :)

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.

When: Dec 13, 2022 06:00 PM GMT

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sd-2oqDsrGtTkWvRzqDr69qZC5JXH2kCs

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Future Co-ops, Oxford, 10-11th Feb "From crisis to co-op"

Takes place in Oxford, attended by a hole range of cooperators For more info

“WE OFTEN SAY CO-OPS ARE THE SOLUTION, BUT ARE THEY? HOW CAN WE TRANSLATE THE RHETORIC INTO ACTION AND SUPPORT PEOPLE FACING A DESPERATE CHOICE BETWEEN ‘HEAT OR EAT’?”

They also have bursary’s for people under 30 who haven’t been before.

SEA has just launched a fundraiser. Chip in you like our work, or just want to do some guilt free, co-op supporting Christmas shopping!

We need your help! We are trying to raise some funds to maintain our work through 2023, to strengthen and build the solidarity economy as an alternative to capitalism, and play a role in building an ecologically sustainable, resilient and socially just economic system from below.

What do we need? Solidarity Economy Association (who run the cooperation in Mesopotamia project) have a shortfall of £18,000 for the first part of 2023 which we need to contribute towards the salaries of our three dedicated, part-time staff (based in England, Wales and Scotland), so we can keep running and delivering our current amazing projects and identifying new opportunities to keep building the solidarity economy.Rewards!

We also have some great rewards donated by from coops and supporters from all around the word, so you can help build the solidarity economy and find some beautiful gifts for loved ones (or yourself!).

You can find the campaign page here https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/solidarity-economy-from-below#start

Please donate what you can and share the link with your friends, family and co-workers.

No amount is too small, and we’re offering rewards for donations, from Janet Biehl, Dog Section Press, Rojava Cooperatives, Maxine Peake, the Zapatistas and many many more! 

Donate in the first week of the campaign and we’ll send your reward in time for Christmas. (Sadly we can only post physical rewards to UK addresses.)   

Thank you!

In solidarity, 

The SEA Ops Team

Practitioners Forum - the co-op essentials training event in one hit - has co-op membership expert, Sue Froggatt, conducting TWO mighty sessions this year. If you're a fairly new member to Co-operatives UK (past 18 months or so) you'll qualify for bursary places too. Where else can you get essential co-op training on HR, membership, finance and governance under one roof, in one day, for the price? See more here https://www.uk.coop/events-and-training/events-calendar/practitioners-forum-2022-book-your-place

Come to the annual 'Ways Forward for the Co-op Movement' conference in a couple of weeks:

Book soon! Share ideas and learn about projects from speakers like

• Chris Saltmarsh, Author of “Burnt: Fighting for Climate Justice’ (Pluto Press), Co-founder of Labour for a Green New Deal,

• The Kindling Trust working with Unicorn Grocery

• Molly Scott Cato, professor of Green Economics

• The Larder, Preston

• Tipping Point

• Edinburgh Student Housing Co-op

• Kate Whittle of the Worker Co-ops Anti-Racism working group

• Steve Graby, researching disabled people's involvement in UK co-ops

• Jonathan Atkinson of People-Powered Retrofit

• workers.coop - new UK federation of worker-led co-ops*

• and many more on themes of housing, economics, energy and social change

Join for food, social and Open Mic on Thursday evening - Open Mic slots still available and tickets can be bought separately if you just wanna hang out or can't make the daytimes, see attached flyer.

Stalls and bursaries are available and volunteers are still needed.

Stick around afterwards for the North England/North Wales regional workers.coop get together.

For anyone going to the Green Gathering this week 4-7Aug: the Radical Routes/A Commune in the North stall n the campaigns area will be running 'speed dating' networking sessions for any co-operators around

Another plug for our Sociocracy in Co-ops Annual Conference on Thursday 23rd June. We're very excited to be joined by Jessica Gordon Nembhard who will be running a session on Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Justice in co-ops. Tickets and full session details here

Co-operatives UK is hosting a Youth Summit on the 11th July in Manchester. Free to attend and aimed at 16-25's looking to join a movement that empowers people and gives a voice to all. There will be a session on www.ycn.coop which SF supported as well (how to link the two initiatives together) So if your under 25 take a look.

https://www.uk.coop/events-and-training/national-youth-summit

I'm part of the international Sociocracy for All's Co-op Circle and we are very excited to announce SoFA’s second annual Sociocracy in Cooperatives international conference. Building on the success of last year, we look forward to welcoming you to an interactive programme of inspiring workshops. 

This year we’ll be exploring implementations in worker and multi-stakeholder co-ops, reviewing the progress made in aligning sociocracy with UK cooperative legal structures, and making space to co-design a new community of practice for co-operators implementing sociocracy in their co-ops .

Our overarching theme is Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

This conference is for everyone enthusiastic about co-ops and/or sociocracy. Please join us for an accessible introduction to, and interactive exploration of, the current and future theory and practice of sociocratic governance in cooperatives.

Book here: https://www.sociocracyforall.org/sociocracy-in-cooperatives-conference-2022/