Working Together - workers' co-operatives heritage project

Hi, I’m Philippa and I’ve recently started as the project archivist for the HLF funded project ‘Working Together: recording and preserving the heritage of the workers’ co-operative movement.’

The project aims to identify and make accessible records from some of the major workers’ co-operatives of the 1970s-1990s in the UK, together with co-operative support organisations, that are in danger of being lost. The project will involve finding material relating to these workers’ cooperatives, and ensuring where possible, it is deposited either at the National Co-operative Archive, here in Manchester, or in the relevant local county record office or public archive. The project also aims to capture oral histories of key individuals within the workers’ co-operative movement. To make this material more accessible the project will also involve the digitisation of key records identified, to be included on the National Co-operative Archive website alongside case studies and learning resources. A number of exhibition panels will be created to be displayed at venues including the Rochdale Pioneers Museum.

As we are currently trying to locate and identify key records, and where these may be held/who may be holding them, any information members of this group may have relating to this would be much appreciated! Similarly if anyone is aware of any individuals who could provide oral histories for the project, please let me know.

We are also currently looking for volunteers to get involved at all stages of the project, so if anyone is interested, or knows of someone who may be, please get in contact.

If you have any questions or would like more information about this project let me know, either on this thread or on the project email: workingtogether@co-op.ac.uk

You can also follow the project on twitter @CoopArchive using the hashtag #WorkerCoops

Thanks!
Philippa