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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 Taster…
“Among the many movements and ideas that Robert Owen inspired and influenced, co-operation has a claim to be the longest-lasting and most important. The co-operative movement in Britain pre-dated Owen but, from the 1820s, it was infused with his optimism that a better world could be organised around, as he put it, ‘principles of union and co-operation’. Such principles took many forms: communitarian experiments, producer associations, the ‘labour exchange’ movement, and ultimately, the foundation stone of British co-operation, the co-operative store. Although Owen, in this as in so many other cases, moved on rapidly to other enthusiasms after the mid-1830s, his ideas continued to function as a touchstone for co-operators for generations to come. More than a quarter of a millennium after his birth, Owen continues to offer much food for thought for twenty-first century co-operators”
FREE ONLINE EVENT: Saturday, July 2nd, 2022
Download the event programme (English, pdf) | Lawrlwythwch rhaglen y digwyddiad (Cymraeg, pdf)
Register for your FREE ticket on Eventbrite.
Saturday 2nd July 2022, 9.55 – 11.10 am
Robert Owen’s Impact: Learning lessons for Co-operation and Education
Welcome: Mick Antoniw Labour & Co-operative MS for Pontypridd, Counsel General for Wales https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Mick Antoniw
Speaker: Professor Chris Williams, Head of College, College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, University College Cork, Cork http://research.ucc.ie/profiles/A019/chris.williams@ucc.ie
‘Robert Owen and co-operation’ – Among the many movements and ideas that Robert Owen inspired and influenced, co-operation has a claim to be the longest-lasting and most important. The co-operative movement in Britain pre-dated Owen but, from the 1820s, it was infused with his optimism that a better world could be organised around, as he put it, ‘principles of union and co-operation’. Such principles took many forms: communitarian experiments, producer associations, the ‘labour exchange’ movement, and ultimately, the foundation stone of British co-operation, the co-operative store. Although Owen, in this as in so many other cases, moved on rapidly to other enthusiasms after the mid-1830s, his ideas continued to function as a touchstone for co-operators for generations to come. More than a quarter of a millennium after his birth, Owen continues to offer much food for thought for twenty-first century co-operators.
Chair: Chris Hall, Chairperson Co-ops & Mutuals Wales
“Those who opt to make history and change the course of events themselves have an advantage over those who decide to wait passively for the results of the change.”
– Father José María Arizmendiarrieta
FREE ONLINE EVENT: Saturday 14th May 2022: 9.55-12.05
Download the Programme (English, pdf) | Lawrlwythwch y Rhaglen (Cymraeg, pdf)
To reserve your FREE ticket to this Zoom Online event, please register here
A CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR A CO-OPERATIVE WALES?
Summary
The Welsh word ‘dysgu’ means both teaching and learning. This underlines the fact that learning should not be something handed down from teacher to pupil. It should be a collaborative effort between all stakeholders. With discussions taking place on new school curricula and teacher training, now is the time to press for introducing this new approach.
This April 2017 event in Cardiff demonstrated the wealth of potential there is in Wales to further the Co-operative education agenda. What was great about the enquiry was that participants recognised that we are exploring the notion of a contemporary Co-operative education in a hospitable policy climate – i.e., the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and through initiatives such as Philosophy with Children. This opens real opportunities to think creatively about new educational approaches and to see these delivered ‘on the ground’.
For the future, there are some really important elements to be considered in terms of ‘being’ a co-operative teacher which are not simply about values and principles (though these are drivers); but also, about learner centred pedagogical approaches; communications; leadership; and attitudes. We left the event with big questions: What is a co-operative teacher? What does being a co-operative teacher add to the experiences of the student, school, classroom; professional practice? Much of this could come up through any future enquiry – but they are important questions if we are to realise the goals set out in the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
For more details please go to:
Joseph (Joe) Reeves was born on 28 January 1888 in Camberwell, London. His childhood was impoverished and he left school at 13. He was a conscientious objector during World War I. Joe was Education Secretary of the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society (RACS) from 1918-1938. He believed that ‘the dynamic of education must be altered from individual assertiveness to service on behalf of the community’. While Reeves was secretary the Education Committee expanded its activities and provided equipment and premises for classes as well as holding drama groups and orchestras. In 1945 he was elected as a member of parliament for the Greenwich Constituency, until 1955. He also served on the RACS Political Purposes Committee from 1946-1953.
https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/1421fc6e-153c-3142-8ae9-ddcaf00e00f3
https://gov.wales/economy-minister-sets-out-plans-banc-cambria-wales-new-community-bank
Welsh Government statement issued today.
Excellent cross-party support for Monmouthshire Building Society backing a civic society mutual intiative for a community bank – long in the making in Wales. Many more miles to travel. Mutuals are member controlled. If you want a say in branch location/policy join this mutual to make it a great success.
As part of Congress’s first key theme, Examining Our Co-operative Identity, delegates gathered on the afternoon of 1 December in Seoul and online to discuss cooperative and cultural heritage. In 2016, UNESCO formally recognised cooperatives as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and in her introduction, the session’s facilitator Stefania Marcone referenced this decision as something to reflect on in this conversation, saying, “if we want to rebuild a better world, cooperative culture and the culture in cooperative sectors are fundamental.”
David Smith, lifelong co-operative activist and Trustee of the Robert Owen Memorial Museum offered a presentation from Wales, where he shared that despite having global recognition in the co-operative world, Robert Owen, whose 250th birthday is being celebrated this year, is little known in Wales. Mr Smith explained that there is sadly poor understanding of the co-operative movement in Wales, something he and his colleagues are working to counter through educational programmes, media coverage and events. He ended his presentation with a question to Congress: Would the creation of a global annual Robert Owen Day spur us to action in creating a co-operative education system for the co-operative world we wish it to be?
Francis Jones explores the life and work of Welsh businessman and social reformer Robert Owen: why do we know so little about a man whose work is revered across the world?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000z4vj
The radio programme is on this evening, 31st August 2021 at 18.30 hrs, and will be available on the BBC Sounds app for the next month so there’s plenty of time to take advantage of its presence online for a while yet.
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Secretary - David Smith
54 Capel Dewi Hall Road
Newport
NP20 2QP
+44 (0) 7597 008176
david(at)cooperatives-wales.coop
Skype: Davidsmith.wales
Follow us @CoopsWales
