cooperatives-wales.coop

At our fifth Robert Owen Day, we explore Community Wealth Building through 3 real-world case studies. Learning how we move from decline to renewal and revitalise our communities. Registration here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-transformation-of-a-declining-high-street-co-operative-solutions-tickets-1985667971355

A theme prompted by https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/11/uk-high-streets-reform-shops-closing-hope  which argues the emptying of high streets has reached a crisis point, with hundreds of shops closing, including major brands, and notes the political implications of this decline. You are welcome to join us.

https://www.thenews.coop/mapping-the-cultural-heritage-of-co-ops-what-should-be-on-the-list/Mapping the cultural heritage of co-ops: What should be on the list? Do contribute your ideas.

Work continues to celebrate places and traditions that embody the legacy, idea and practice of co-operation

“The co-operative idea is part of the cultural heritage of humanity,” says Santosh Kumar, the ICA director of legislation who is coordinating the CCH global secretariat with India, Brazil and the ICA global office. Kumar adds that while it is important to celebrate the scale and achievements of the world’s largest co-op businesses, there is also a need to acknowledge the movement’s origins.

Over 100 food businesses, NGOs and academics call for ‘Good Food Bill’ as failing food system threatens national security and public health
Coops Wales joins major UK food businesses, NGOs and academics in calling for new law as failing food system threatens national security and public health. https://www.sustainweb.org/news/feb26-good-food-bill/

Properly resourced education and learning networks, with adequate time to develop and embed would:

• enable meaningful resident participation rather than symbolic consultation;
• support Neighbourhood Boards to evolve into robust, community-led legal entities;
• strengthen trust, transparency, and democratic practice;
• reduce risk to public funds through improved governance capability;
• ensure that learning is shared systematically across PiP areas.

Embed Education, Training, and Information- Pride in Place and the Network for Neighbourhoods.

• We strongly welcome the Pride in Place (PiP) programme, which represents a vital shift from top-down renewal to localised empowerment. By delegating authority to a ‘Neighbourhood Board’—not the Council—residents will dictate how £2m p.a. (over 10 years) is spent to address specific local needs.
• Shortly, this funding enables a 4-year investment plan (to be agreed by UK Government) covering capital improvements, such as traffic management and road maintenance, alongside revenue projects like potentially improving NHS health check uptake, supporting early years learning, or boosting local sports.
• To succeed, the method of decision-making must be as robust as the investment itself. We must establish strong, supportive frameworks that ensure local voices have genuine agency, fulfilling the promise of true devolution.

‘Pride in Place’£214m new funding for Welsh communities to improve neighbourhoods and restore pride – GOV.UK is a rare opportunity to rebuild local civic and economic infrastructure with long-term financial support. Successful delivery of the programme’s ambitions will depend as much on how things are done as on what gets delivered.

Starting point:To avoid displacing and replacing local community initiatives we urge ‘Pride in Place’ needs three things:

• Inclusive community “co-design” working in the open
• A stimulus for fresh ideas and new possibilities
• Dialogue between decision makers and micro communities must be involved

Co-operative education programmes will be essential to provide residents and future co-operators with the practical skills, knowledge, and confidence required to genuinely manage the substantial funding for the long term. It will also explicitly support the programme’s aims. These questions have been sent to the nine local MPs crucially driving the Phase 2  process.

Here: we provide two short papers: Policy Paper 02/2026 Pride in Place (PiP) – the vital role of Co-operative & Community Education Policy Paper 02:2026 , and Discussion Paper 02/2026 “Pride in Place” (Phase 2) Wales Operational Challenges: The Impracticality of the 3-Month Startup Period Discussion Paper 02:26 Pride in Place – critque 3 months

Please get in touch if you wish to learn more, or if can contribute to how PiP is evolving in these nine areas.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/28/englands-most-deprived-areas-to-get-worse-by-next-election-report-for-no-10-finds? 

We have recently launched our Manifesto on Co-operative Education in Wales in time for the upcoming Senedd elections. However, this is not just a document for those elections, it is the result of a process of policy development over many years, and will be an important consideration in the movement’s push to double the size of the co-operative economy over the next few years.

After much consideration and many months of consultation (featured in a recent article in Coop News)  the final version is now published. Our thanks to news.coop for their generous help in designing the document and to our volunteer translators.

You can read the full Manifesto here:-

Maniffesto ar gyfer Addysg Gydweithredol yng Nghymru

A Manifesto for Co-operative Education

Putting Co-operation at the Heart of Education in Wales

Wales needs to adopt a bold, new approach to education that would make co-operation a defining feature of national life, from early years to apprenticeships, FE and business schools.

Making a ‘Co-operative Wales: A Manifesto for Co-operative Education in Wales’, produced by Co-operatives Wales and partners, argues that the nation stands at a decisive moment.

Economic inequality, climate pressures, digital disruption and social fragmentation, demand an education system that actively teaches people how to work together, share power and build fairer local economies.

This core message is simple but transformative: if Wales wants a co-operative, democratic economy, it must first build an underpinning co-operative, democratic education system.

Education through Co-operation

Co-operative learning should be embedded throughout, making co-operation a central principle of the Curriculum for Wales rather than an occasional enrichment activity.

· Drawing on Welsh specific guidance and Co-operative Early Years guidance, means prioritising relationships, empathy, turn-taking, shared play and experiences of fairness and belonging.

· In the primary schools, it recommends class meetings, jointly created rules, simple co-operative enterprises such as gardens or “shops” and exploring Wales’ history of mutual aid and co-operative organising.

· By secondary school, the emphasis shifts to democratic participation and social justice: student-led co-operatives, restorative approaches to conflict, and inquiry into real economic, environmental and community issues.

· In Further Education, apprenticeships and post-16 pathways, there should be progression routes into co-operative enterprise, ‘community wealth building’, local governance, sustainable business practice and social innovation.

· Universities and business schools are urged to integrate co-operative economics, governance and ownership into mainstream courses, supported by research on democratic innovation. Cwmpas is highlighted as a key national partner linking Higher Education institutions with real co-operatives and community enterprises.

Doubling the Co-operative Economy

Wales’s co-operative, mutual and social economy already support around 14,000 jobs, with thousands more in the wider economy. Policymakers across the UK have expressed ambitions to double the size of the co-operative and mutual economy.
This ambition will not be met simply by pulling ‘policy’ levers.

Success requires a population that understands how co-operatives work; legally, financially and democratically and has the confidence to create, join and lead them. A young person in Wales can still complete 15–20 years of education, without ever encountering co-operatives or alternative democratic business models. This is a systemic failure undermining Wales’s future economic wellbeing and resilience.

Cynefin, Citizenship and Bilingualism

Distinctively Welsh concepts are woven throughout. Cynefin (belonging, place, identity and interconnection) is promoted as a cultural anchor and a framework for wise decision-making. Learners are encouraged to map their local economies, explore patterns of ownership and identify unmet community needs that co-operative
models could address.

Bilingualism is an asset for co-operative life. Language defines the way we think, and Cymraeg, honed over centuries of a traditional, collective way of life, is a language of teamwork, leadership, negotiation and shared enterprise.

 Bringing Co-operative Education to Schools

Collaboration, ethics and democratic competencies must be recognised in assessment processes if schools are to prioritise them. Co-operative content should be integrated across Humanities, Business, Science, Technology, Maths, and we propose a national Co-operative Challenge within the Welsh Baccalaureate.

Robert Owen Day and a Digital Future

To give the agenda visibility an annual Robert Owen Day each May, promotes the
Newtown-born pioneer of co-operative education, connecting schools, communities, co-operatives and Co-operatives Wales in practical projects.

In an era of AI, social media and a “digital-only” drift, co-operative education is essential, enabling digital democracy: teaching collective problem-solving, critical digital literacy and community ownership of technology.

Please note: Further engagement is invited in developing this plan via david@cooperatives-Wales.coop

Co-operatives are largely invisible in UKs 100+ Business Schools. They teach/research about state-owned enterprises & not-for-profits, but not Co-ops. Why? And how can Co-ops be made visible in Business Schools Here’s the link to register for the Eventbrite: Next meeting of the Senedd Cross-Party Group for Co-operatives and Mutuals Tickets, Wed, Dec 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite 

 What’s to be done – with thanks to Prof Colin Talbot

  The co-operative and mutual sector is virtually invisible in business schools. This is not because such schools only study and teach about for-profit, investor owned, businesses. Many run courses and even whole degrees on public sector and not-for-profit businesses (the latter especially being much smaller than the co-operative sector).

In order to change this, we shall address the various networks and institutions that have grown up representing business and management studies. The three most important ones are probably: Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS), British Academy of Management (BAM), Association of MBAs (AMBA).They are the three main vectors for inserting co-operative studies – research and education – into higher education. With limited financial support from government, there are many ways this could be done, for example:

• Sponsoring teaching and, importantly, research per Special Interest Groups in CABS or BAM.
• Offering a prize for best contribution to Co-operative Business Studies in Wales.
• Offering bursaries to study co-operative business at Business Schools in Wales.Free availability of Co-op News & the Journal of Co-op Studies within business schools.
• Offering speakers and preparing course materials for one-off sessions or whole modules.
• Partnership events with co-operatives to build trust and collaboration.

What was a achieved by one Welsh Business School – over 20 years ago.

The Cardiff Institute for Cooperative Studies (previously the Wales…) was part of the UWIC – now Cardiff Metropolitan University Business School and was established in 2002.

It was set up by cooperative and trade unions supporting academics.

Academically its roots date back to 1990 debates about the relevance and meaning of what was called ‘critical management’. Grounding the debates in practice was difficult to establish and the group in Cardiff recognised that cooperatives were a radical and challenging departure from conventional management aims and practice.

The aim was to research existing cooperative such as Tower Colliery to demonstrate the extent they were different but also worked, as well as review and promote less traditional forms of cooperative production, such as in young peoples’ music.

Around 20 or so academic papers, books, research and consultancy reports were published. Many are still widely cited in international level publications.

One later development was to explore cooperatives as ‘social movements’ and how they might impact on transformative social and economic change.

Sunday 6 th July 2025, 2pm – 3.45 pm, online

Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/manage/events/1394104597379/details

Chair/Introduction: Rebecca Harvey, Executive Editor, Co-op Press

Theme: Public, Private or Co-op? Addressing the Invisibility of the Co-operative movement within a UK mixed economy

Speaker: Professor Colin Talbot

University of Manchester (Professor of Government – Emeritus)

Audience participation

Session Two

Chair:  Rebecca Harvey

Theme: What to be done?

Short presentations/reflections,

• Cheryl Barrott, Chair, Co-ops UK;
• Glenn Bowen, Enterprise Programme Director, Cwmpas;
• Emma Hoddinott, Assistant General Secretary, The Co-operative Party (tbc)
• Rachel Garrick, Monmouthshire County Council

Round table discussion & audience participation

The Labour government came to power in 2024 with the stated aim of “doubling the co-operative economy,” which raises the questions; why? And what exactly does that mean?

One possible answer comes in “Rebalancing Society” which is usually viewed as the balance between Public and Private sectors, and which often excludes a third – usually ‘invisible’ – sector, which includes co-operatives, mutuals, associations, not-for-profits, charities, civic and community organisations, etc.

Drawing upon the work of Prof. Henry Mintzberg, Prof. Colin Talbot will speak about the importance of the ‘Plural sector’, but also about why a balance between the three legs of the social ‘stool’ is critical for the future. And that includes a vital role for co-operative forms of organisation – both in formal Co-ops and in ways of working in Public and private organisations.

Finally, what conclusions, if any, might be drawn in terms of future Manifesto commitments, whilst being supportive of a future legislative proposals arising from the Law Commission Review of Co-operative & Mutual legislation.

Ends

Chair: Huw Irranca Davies MS

Session One 10.00 – 11.05

1. Ultra Processed Food and the health time bomb. What’s to be done?

Prof Christina Vogel, Director, Centre for Food Policy, Professor of Food Policy, City University, London

2. Something Can Be Done: The Good Food Revolution in Schools, Hospitals and Prisons

Prof Kevin Morgan, Prof of Governance & Development, School of Geography & Planning, Cardiff University.

3. Education, Exercise and Services

Debbie Robinson, Chief Executive, Central Coop

Break 11.05 – 11.10

Session Two 11.10 – 12.00

Roundtable with audience participation, chair Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader, Monmouthshire County Council

Contact David Smith if further details are required: david@cooperatives-wales.coop

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-21st-century-food-scandal-ultra-processed-food-and-the-health-time-bomb-tickets-1303387309529 Robert Owen DaRobert Owen Day 2025y 2025

Cadeirydd: Huw Irranca Davies AS, 

Sessiwn Un 10.00 – 11.05

1. Bwyd wedi’i brosesu’n uwch a’r bom amser iechyd. Beth sydd i’w wneud?

Yr Athro Christina Vogel, Cyfarwyddwr, Canolfan Polisi Bwyd, Athro Polisi Bwyd, Prifysgol Dinas, Llundain.

1. All wneud rhywbeth: Y chwyldroad bwyd dda yn ysgolion, ysbytai, a carcharion

Yr Athro Kevin Morgan, Athro Llywodraethiant & Datblygu, Ysgol Daearyddiaeth a Cynllunio, Prifysgol Caerdydd.

1. Addysg, Ymarfer Corff, a Gwasanaethau.

Debbie Robinson, Prif Weithredwr, Coop Canolog

Seibiant 11.05 – 11.10

Sessiwn Dau 11.10 – 12.00

Sesiwn trafodaeth bord gron efo cyfranogiad y gynulleidfa

Cysylltwch a David Smith am fwy o wybodaeth: david@cooperatives-wales.coop

Robert Owen 1771-1858 – Mab y Drenewydd a ‘thad’ y Mudiad Cydweithredol. Ychydig yn hysbys yng Nghymru ond gydag effaith fyd-eang. https://www.co-operativeheritage.coop/collection-1. O 1844 daeth Co-ops i’r amlwg yn gyflym yn darparu bwyd heb ei lygru, am bris teg, gyda gweledigaeth o gymdeithas amgen yn seiliedig ar egwyddorion cydweithredol. Gweler https://ica.coop/en/cooperatives/what-is-a-cooperative.

This is due to the General Election. Most likely this will held on Saturday 31st August 2024. You can still register for the new date using the existing eventbrite link

2024.

The Law Commission is the official law reform body for England and Wales. It has been asked by Government to “review the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 to see if any reform is needed to ensure that the legislation is fitting to the needs of societies, and that regulation is proportionate and effective”.They will be publishing a consultation paper setting out possible reforms. Everyone is encouraged to respond to that consultation, sharing their views. The publication of their consultation paper, will probably be in the summer. Certainly, after 11 May for a 12-week period. To join the mailing list, please email: coops@lawcommission.gov.uk 

Robert Owen Day online event

Building a Collaborative Future: Law Commission Review: Radical Perspectives

Saturday, 11 May 2024 10 am – 12.10 pm

Organised by Co-ops & Mutuals Wales.

For more details, + to register, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-a-co-operative-futurelaw-commission-review-radical-perspectives-tickets-869609022997 or contact david@cooperatives-wales.coop Tel: 07597 008176 – www.cooperatives-wales.coop

Digwyddiad ar-lein Diwrnod Robert Owen

Adeiladu Dyfodol Cydweithredol: Adolygiad Comisiwn y Gyfraith: Safbwyntiau Radical

Dydd Sadwrn, 11 Mai 2024 10 am – 12.10 pm

A drefnir gan Co-ops & Mutuals Wales. Am fwy o fanylion, + i gofrestru, ewch i https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-a-co-operative-futurelaw-commission-review-radical-perspectives-tickets-869609022997 neu cysylltwch â david@cooperatives-wales.coop  Ffôn: 07597 008176 – www.cooperatives-wales.coop

Mark is a rare politician who has sought to advance co-operative solutions – and made his actions speak louder than his words. He also understood the importance of co-operative learning in informing and sustaining co-operative action. Mark advocated a cultural shift in the way in which co-operatives are viewed, from a solution of last
resort to co-operative solutions being the model of choice.

Instinctively co-operative in nature, Mark has encouraged and permitted new ideas to be tested and shaped at a grassroots level. Often this went against conventional wisdom and sometimes without input from advisors, some of whom may have been outside their comfort zone.

Hard work, combined with his academic and community work background certainly enabled him to do so and to work with grassroots activists to bring this about. An unconventional politician who understood the need to support change, who was ahead of his time. Referring to St David, Mark recalled, his was  a ‘step by step’ approach
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYo88LPOI5g

That  is not to say that such initiatives were always successful or that the necessary intermediaries were always best placed to assist. He tried to put co-operative legislation, initiatives, and projects in place, but these require implementation and understanding on the ground to enable this to happen, so this is not a guarantee of success.

But this contrasts with rhetoric about ‘doubling the co-op economy’ without specific plans in place to make this happen. Whilst others had reservations, Mark fully appreciated the crucial role of financial institutions and pressed for solutions by strongly supporting a civic society proposal for a Welsh Community Bank. With cross-party support this is still on track but unfortunately, it will not now launch during his tenure as First Minister.

Resources are not always the barrier to change but in terms of social care, with monopolistic competition dominating the market, change was never going to be an easy challenge.

What is important about Mark’s contribution is that he supported well-argued cases for co-operative solutions and went out of his way to help make sure this happened. As a result, he has started to deliver practical co-operative solutions, which give many hope that he has laid firm foundations for a more co-operative Wales in the future.

David Smith & Chris Hall (published in the Co-op News,  January 2024.

Very pleased to have been invited to speak with Llandridnod Wells U3A on the emergence, philosophy & achievements of British Co-operative movement @MetropoleHotel.

Self-organised adult education at its best.

Thanks to Co-op Heritage Trust for their support.