Mondragon Co-operative Corporation have launched a new video for 2012
Don’t forget, there will be more details on Mondragon at the Co-operative Group conference Continue reading
Credit Unions have made substantial progress since the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Growth Fund began in 2006. Growth Fund offered suitable credit unions financial and business support for increasing access to financial services and loans to people on low incomes who would not otherwise be able to access them.
The Growth Fund ended in March 2011. DWP has conducted a feasibility study into how the credit union sector can modernise and expand to serve a million more customers with the products that they need. Continue reading
The Irish Cooperative Organisation Society, The National Association of Building Co-operatives and the Irish League of Credit Unions came together yesterday (May 15th) at Croke Park, Dublin, to launch the Co-operative Alliance Ireland to celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives. Around 100 people filled the room to hear a range of speakers including Peter Couchman and ICA President Dame Pauline Green. Great speeches by the Minister for Jobs, Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock, TD and especially the President, Michael D Higgins, who has a philosphical and historical knowledge and understanding of the movement in Ireland second to none. Both are fully committed to co-operatives and mutuals as a way of rebuilding the Irish economy in a more stable and sustainable way. Continue reading
Scope have launched their policy thinkpiece, Individualism versus Collectivism in Care at the Assembly today, 08/05/2012. Continue reading
The International Co-operative Alliance world expo of co-operatives together with its Congress takes place in Manchester from Mon Oct 29th to Friday Nov 2nd.
Full details are now available at www.manchester2012.coop
Wrexham Supporters Trust, set up with the support of the Co-operative Enterprise Hub and Supporters Direct have launched a community share issue to raise £300,000 to add to the £60,000 they have already raised.
Our Club, Our Future was launched on Thursday, April 26th at the Nick Whitehead Theatre at Glyndwr University at 7.30pm when Wrexham supporters were given an opportunity to ask questions of the joint WST and Supporters’ Direct team, which developed the offer.
If you want to buy into the club, full details of the share issue are at:-
http://www.wst.org.uk/www2/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=912&Itemid=164
or at
http://supporters-direct.coop/news/item/?n=15173&cat=sd_eng
The next meeting of the Welsh Assembly Cross-Party Group on Co-operatives and Mutuals will be on:-
Wednesday May 23rd 2012 at 12.30pm
“What next for credit unions? Opportunities and challenges for financial co-operatives in a changing environment”
Mark Lyonette, Chief Executive of ABCUL
Barry Roberts, General Manager of North Wales Credit Union
Committee Room 24, National Assembly for Wales, Ty Hywel, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1AA
Please note
These meetings are open to interested members of the public.
This event is inside the security zone, and space is limited. You will not be able to attend unless you contact Jackie Aplin in advance to have your name added to the list of invitees.
e-mail: jackie@cooperatives-wales.coop
A light buffet lunch will be provided – sponsored by the Co-operative Group Cymru/Wales Membership
The Robert Owen Museum http://robert-owen-museum.org.uk/ at Newtown has secured a grant of £5,000
The funding is coming from the Association of Independent Museums (AIM) to complete work on a portrait of Robert Owen and two large watercolours of mills. The plans are to commence work in the autumn of this year.
Please do not forget the Robert Owen Birthday Celebrations on May 12th – 11:30am at the Tomb in Newtown, followed by refreshments, painting unveiling and the chance to see the Museum’s new lighting.
Further details from:
Dr Gemma-Jane Bowker, Robert Owen Museum Press and Marketing Officer gemmajaner@gmail.com
Wales Co-operative Centre’s latest report on business succession as a way of saving Welsh businesses has just been published.
Download the report here:- Business Succession Time Bomb
Thursday 29 March, 6.00pm
Cineworld, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff
A film by Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein
To celebrate the United Nations International Year Of Co-operatives 2012, the Wales Co-operative Centre is screening ‘The Take’.
In the wake of Argentina’s spectacular economic collapse of 2001, Buenos Aires becomes a ghost town of abandoned factories and mass unemployment. Thirty unemployed auto-parts workers, part of a daring new movement of worker co-operatives, walk into their idle factory and refuse to leave. All they want to do is re-start the silent machines. But this simple act – the take – has the power to turn the globalisation debate on its head.
“A stirring, idealistic documentary!”
New York Times
“An eye-opening, possibility-widening documentary! If Michael Moore could calm down just a little and maintain a watchful distance, The Take suggests the kind of film he’d make!”
Newsday
Take this rare opportunity to see the film in Wales, be inspired and join the discussion with other co-operators.
Join us for a drink from 6.00pm – the film will be screened at 6.30pm. Tickets are free, but availability is limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.
Watch the Trailer Book your seats
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23 February 3.00-6.00 at Cardiff City Hall
All in this together: co-production, co-creation and public service delivery
Open meeting/seminar (plus in Llandudno Junction via a video link).
Five superb speakers:
Mark Drakeford AM
Rosie Farrar (exDesign Council & NESTA, now Spice)
Elke Loeffer (Governance International)
Megan Mathias (Kafka Brigade)
Paul Thurston (Design Wales).
Once we are all inspired by what’s possible, the final hour will be used as a springboard for setting up an action group to galvanise others and get co-production to the top of the Welsh participation and citizen engagement agenda.
Limited places – book now via: http://allinthistogether.eventbrite.co.uk
We hope to video-conference the event in N.Wales. Please email Ruth for details ruthdineen@yahoo.com.
The event is being organised as part of the Co-production Resource project with the support of: Cardiff Council’s Partnerships & Citizen Focus Team, Design Council Wales, Institute of Welsh Affairs, Kafka Brigade, new economics foundation, Patchwork Circles, Spice.
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March 8th 2012, 5.30pm at the Glamorgan Building, Cardiff University
Glamorgan Lecture – A conversation with Robin Murray and Stephen Yeo
Chaired by Prof Kevin Morgan
Booking essential
Full details:- Co-operatives – 8th March 2012
The Importance of Social Innovation What can older people in Wales learn from Quebec? Wednesday 8th February 2012 |
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Our National Assembly for Wales event is now full. We can place you on a waiting list or you can directly reserve a place at this overspill event. Please arrive by 11.45am to enable a prompt start With keynote speaker Jean-Pierre Girard, hosted by social care charity Cartrefi Cymru Jean-Pierre Girard is a leading researcher of co-operative care in Quebec, which covers 50% of such provision. They have pioneered a service user approach as a direct consequence of user control over the design and delivery of these services, as a complement to, and not a substitute for, public services. Providing care and housing for older people is one of the major challenges which we face, as providers, funders and citizens. This event will explore whether services based on Co-operative values and principles can help to overcome these challenges. It is also an opportunity to make contact with potential allies for the development of better care in Wales. To Book: Please click HERE to book on-line, or send an email headed “Quebec Coop Event” to enquiries@cartrefi.org or phone 01633 266781 Cartrefi Cymru and the Wales Progressive Co-operators are organising the overall programme, supported by The Co-operative Cymru/Wales during United Nations International Year of Co-operatives 2012, alongside Public Health Alliance Cymru and the Welsh Food Alliance. |
The International year of co-operatives was launched on January 10th in Wales at an event in the Assembly organised by the Wales Co-operative Centre.
Speakers included the Business Minister, Edwina Hart AM, The Chair of the Assembly’s Cross Party Group on Co-operatives and Mutuals, Vaughan Gething AM, Pauline Green, World President of the International Co-operative Alliance, Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK and Derek Walker, Chief Executive of Wales Co-operative Centre.
The latest research paper from the Wales Co-operative Centre in this, its 30th year, was launched by Victoria Winkler, Director of the Bevan Foundation who had prepared the report.
Derek Walker, Chief Executive of Wales Co-operative Centre, said: “In 2012, the UN International Year of Co-operatives, this report highlights the significant contribution Wales’ co-operatives make to the Welsh economy, society and environment.
“Worker co-operatives have far lower levels of staff turnover and absenteeism when compared with the average. They are also more likely to involve women and minority ethnic groups than private businesses. When you look at this evidence, It’s clear that co-operatives could play a big role in making Wales a more prosperous, fair and sustainable place to live.”
“Wales already has some superb co-operative businesses which show what can be done. We have been hit hard by the recession and constraints on public spending and services, coupled with welfare reform, will put further pressure on Welsh individuals, families and communities and the services they rely on. Co-operatives offer a solution to these problems and the case for increasing our efforts to support co-operatives is overwhelming.”
Read the full report:-
Co-operatives in the Welsh Economy
Mentrau Cydweithredol yn Economi Cymru
The Importance of Social Innovation
What can older people in Wales learn from Quebec?
Tuesday 7th February 2012
2.30pm – 5pm
National Assembly for Wales, Ty Hywel, Cardiff Bay
With keynote speaker Jean-Pierre Girard and sponsor Rosemary Butler AM
To book your place:
For more details download the flyer:-
Care & Housing for older people in Quebec (Eng)
Care and Housing for older people in Quebec (Welsh)
The Welsh Assembly Cross-Party Group on Co-operatives and Mutuals has rearranged its next meeting which was to take place on November 30th, the National Day of Action on Pensions.
This meeting is now:-
Wednesday February 1st 2012 at 12.30pm
Chris Earnshaw, Managing Director of John Lewis in Cardiff
Chris will talk about the way John Lewis is structured, the employee’s benefits and a bit about the store itself and John Lewis/Waitrose plans for the future.
Committee Room 21, National Assembly for Wales, Ty Hywel, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1AA
Please note
This event is inside the security zone, and space is limited.
These meetings are open to interested members of the public.
A light buffet lunch will be provided – sponsored by the Co-operative Group Cymru/Wales Membership
You will not be able to attend unless you contact Jackie Aplin in advance to have your name added to the list of invitees.
Tel: 07768 770 165 or e-mail: jackie@cooperatives-wales.coop
The International year of Co-operatives launched at the UN yesterday. The BBC and British press gave it no coverage but it was reported in China !http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-11/01/c_131222633.htm
Further details from the ICA at http://www.ica.coop/al-ica/
Download the UK programme details here 2012 ~ Make It Coop
This successful development programme for co-operators and social entrepreneurs has been relaunched and is now available across Wales and beyond.
Within the Objective One Convergence Areas it is available free of charge delivered by consultancy.coop www.consultancy.coop through their partnership with the Wales Co-operative Centre www.walescooperative.org
Download the brochure at:- Growing Together
For further details of this opportunity please contact Brian Roberts on 01633 793071 or 07966 224384 or e-mail brian@consultancy.coop
Booking is now available online for the following free events
09/11/2011 National Botanic Gardens, Llanarthne, Carmarthen
http://growingtogethercarmarthen.eventbrite.com
24/11/2011 National Botanic Gardens, Llanarthne, Carmarthen
http://growingtogethernationalbotanic.eventbrite.com
It is based upon a highly successful seminar programme run by the Communities First Support Network Initiative between 2005 and 2008 and developed by Amcan Enterprises, and only 10 places are available per seminar. You, the client, will tell us what’s on your mind and we will take things from there. We’ll find the right people for you to talk to and work with and we’ll then tailor the day’s seminar around you.
A recent 30 min broadcast by Peter Day on the BBC World Service of his visit to the Mondragon co-operative in the Basque region of northern Spain is available on the iPlayer
The Welsh Assembly Cross-Party Group on Co-operatives and Mutuals has two new subjects for its next meetings.
These meetings are open to interested members of the public.
A light buffet lunch will be provided – sponsored by the Co-operative Group Cymru/Wales Membership
Wednesday October 19th 2011, 12.30pm
James Graham, CEO of the Scottish Agricultural Organisations Society (SAOS) and Don Thomas, CEO of the Welsh Agricultural Organisations Society (WAOS)
They will talk about the different roles of these two development bodies in developing and supporting agricultural (farmers) co-ops in their respective countries.
Committee Room 21, National Assembly for Wales, Ty Hywel, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1AA
Please note
This event is inside the security zone, and space is limited.
You will not be able to attend unless you contact Jackie Aplin in advance to have your name added to the list of invitees.
Tel: 07768 770 165 or e-mail: jackie@cooperatives-wales.coop
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Wednesday November 30th 2011, 12.30pm
Now rescheduled for February 1st 2012 at 12.30pm
Chris Earnshaw, Managing Director of John Lewis in Cardiff
Chris will talk about the way John Lewis is structured, the employee’s benefits and a bit about the store itself and John Lewis/Waitrose plans for the future.
Committee Room 21, National Assembly for Wales, Ty Hywel, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1AA
Please note
This event is inside the security zone, and space is limited.
You will not be able to attend unless you contact Jackie Aplin in advance to have your name added to the list of invitees.
Tel: 07768 770 165 or e-mail: jackie@cooperatives-wales.coop
15 Samuels Crescent
Whitchurch
Cardiff
CF14 2TH
07914 762 546
alex@cooperatives-wales.coop
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