Author Archives: David Smith

Over 100 food businesses, NGOs and academics call for ‘Good Food Bill’ as failing food system threatens national security and public healthCoops Wales joins major UK food businesses, NGOs and academics in calling for new law as failing food system … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

‘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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

On International Women’s Day, we are thinking of Eliza Brierley. A woman of great importance …a woman we know little about. In 1846 she paid her £1 membership and joined the Cooperative movement. She is  acknowledged as the first female … Continue reading →

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.

Sat, 1 Jul 2023 09:45 – 11:40 a.m. BST Pat Juby: Co-ops & Mutuals Wales introduces ’The Co-operative Movement  Needs Women and Women Need the Co-operative Movement’ Session 1 – 10.00 – 10.45 a.m. Speaker: Debbie Robinson, Chief Executive of Central England … Continue reading →

Funding Our Future The left must create a sustainable economy by putting all the resources available within society to best use, including those that the market fails to use to best effect. Robert Owen Day – and the need for … Continue reading →

How big things get done! Robert Owen Day  Saturday 13th May 2023 10 am -12.30 pm online Session One  10.00 – 11.10 am Key Note contribution, Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister, Welsh Government ‘A new economic narrative for the left’ with … Continue reading →

We now have a new date. Thanks for your patience.

You can download the presentation here Robert Owen – Neil McInroy  

Explore the roots of Community Wealth Building / Foundational Economy a quarter of a millennium after his birth. Free online event ‘Robert Owen’s Impact: Learning lessons for co-operation and education’ with Prof. Chris Williams, University College Cork, Cork. Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pioneer-robert-owens-impact-learning-lessons-for-co-operation-education-tickets-318910819847  A … Continue reading →