Author Archives: David Smith

About David Smith

A lifelong co-operative activist. Former roles: Co-op Foundation Trustee; Co-op Group Main Board, Specialist Board & National Values & Principles Committee; Co-op Group Senate; Co-op Group Wales Regional Board, South Wales Area Committee. Public service includes Government Food Adviser; UK Healthcare Regulator. David directed the first EC funded Wales Anti-Poverty Programme; and pioneered co-operative & community initiatives: free legal services, community-based housing associations, care and repair, pre-school & adventure play, local Co-op Development Agencies, multipurpose Social Care Co-operatives. Founded: Cardiff Student Community Action, Welsh Food Alliance & Wales Progressive Co-operators. Board Member, Newport Credit Union; Robert Owen Memorial Museum Trustee. Former Lecturer, Gwent Tertiary College, Graduate Ruskin College, Oxford and UC Cardiff + PGCE, MA (European Human Resource Management) Keele; Professional Food & Management qualifications.

What would Robert Owen be doing today? School children interview the First Minister of Wales

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Launch with contributions from Co-ops & Mutuals Wales, Newtown Town Council and the Robert Owen Association (Japan)

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The Welsh First Minister interviewed by Co-op News Editor

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Owen’s 250th Anniversary 2021 celebrations to date

Huw Irranca-Davies gave an excellent “90 second statement” in the last Senedd https://www.huwirranca-davies.wales/?wix-vod-comp-id=comp-jtff6odi&wix-vod-video id=7711ea0cb58747988b2b613b9a079bf9 The Executive Editor, Co-operative Press Wales interviewed the First Minister on March 20  (See the June edition of Co-op News) In March 2021 Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd … Continue reading

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International Co-operators Day – Owen event 3rd July 2021

Join our joint event with Llafur: 3rd July 2021 at 9.30am with a 30 minute lecture by Prof Chris Williams on ‘Does Robert Owen’s Legacy still resonate in the 21st century?’ Followed by Q&A. Chair: Mick Antoniw MS  10.35 am: … Continue reading

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Annual National Robert Owen Day event/s starting 2022 consultation

What are your ideas? Arising from Robert Owen’s birthday celebration, ideas are being developed as to how the Movement contributes to his Legacy in 2022? We aim to continue this conversation on: Saturday, 3rd July 2021, 09.30-11.35 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-co-operators-day-owens-legacy-and-co-operative-learning-registration-151288222145    Meanwhile: … Continue reading

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Robert Owen’s 14 May 2021 250th Anniversary event

Seventy participants celebrated Owen’s birthday with a programme from Newtown to Japan and back again, making this a memorable celebration. Activity included: Welcome by Cllr. David Selby, Mayor of Newtown, joining us, with floral tribute from the Co-operative Group Greetings: … Continue reading

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Newtown school children from Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd who recently interviewed Mark Drakeford about Robert Owen

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Was Robert Owen a Radical Visionary or just a very canny businessman? Owen’s 250th Legacy Celebration. What lessons can we learn for the 21st Century?

Greetings! Participants wishing to attend our Friday 14th May & Saturday 3rd July 2021 events please see two separate Eventbrite links. For Friday May 14th  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/co-operative-movement-founder-robert-owens-250th-anniversary-celebration-registration-150928771017    For  Saturday July 3rd https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-co-operators-day-owens-legacy-and-co-operative-learning-registration-151288222145  English and Welsh messages follow with  a programme for … Continue reading

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Robert Owen’s 250th Anniversary raised in the Senedd today

Here is Huw’s great contribution in the Senedd today and the Minister (Rebecca) response – Huw Irranca-Davies | Member of the Senedd | Wales (huwirranca-davies.wales) Many Senedd members generally seemed agreeable to his remarks. No reference is made to the … Continue reading

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This is the most important clip you’ll ever see!

We have never seen a stronger case advanced for the role and values of the global Co-operative Movement https://twitter.com/trocaire/status/1363451681753755648  full version on https://vimeo.com/513437415    Here is Dr. Mike Ryan speaking at a @trocaire event speaking about the catastrophe we’re walking into. We … Continue reading

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Everything you need to know about Fairtrade

“For two weeks each year at the end of February and start of March, thousands of individuals, companies and groups across the UK come together to share the stories of the people who grow our food and drinks. mine our … Continue reading

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Celebrate Robert Owen’s 250th Anniversary

Robert Owen (1771-1858) was a great man of history who pioneered modern socialism, the trade union and co-operative movements. He has never been given the recognition he deserved and many of his ideas from enlightening the “dark satanic mills” around … Continue reading

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Co-operation and a 21st-Century Food Strategy for Wales

At a time of declining wages of cotton and woollen workers failing to improve wages and conditions, the Co-operative Movement grew out of the efforts of early Owenite socialists and chartists and the need for pure, unadulterated goods, keen pricing … Continue reading

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Building a Co-operative Institution in Wales – Banc Cambria

Co-ops and Mutuals Wales & Addysg Oedolion Cymru |Adult Learning Wales presents: Building a Co-operative Institution in Wales – Banc CambriaWednesday 23 September 7-8.10 pm Wales needs to develop institutions that work for the collective good of its citizens. Mark … Continue reading

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Equality

International Women’s Day – 8 March 2019 – This year is themed around gender-balance Balance drives a better working world. Let’s all help create a #BalanceforBetter https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme

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We need a tax funded National Care Service

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47440774 With older people 80+ predicted to increase by 44% in Wales by 2030 we need active space with tax funded National Care Service for self help enterprises -member owned and controlled @CartrefiCymru @Glennwalescoop @KarenLWilkie @derekwalker_ @wgmin_deputy @wgmin_health @fmwales @JulieMorganLAB When … Continue reading

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Adult Education 100 – Making its Mark February 2019

The aim of this newsletter is to give you an update of recent events and also describe how you can contribute your expertise and ideas to both the campaign and the Centenary Commission. Disappointingly (though perhaps unsurprisingly in these troubled … Continue reading

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An Invitation to Think Cooperatively, Learn Collectively

Saturday, September 8th 2018 9.30am for 10.00am – 4.00pm The Tabernacle Chapel, The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1AJ Bringing together co-operative and community activists for shared learning

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Archive report on the first C&MW event

dsCooperative Education draft report v1

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