Co-op News (August 2019)

DIARY
Radical Routes
FROM FAR LEFT CLOCKWISE:
Radical Routes’ Summer Gathering takes
place in Derbyshire on from 9-11 Aug;
Energy4All holds its AGM and Conference
in Lancaster, 20-21 Sept; Rochdale Town
Hall hosts the Co-operative College
centenary event on 26-28 Nov; and Ariel
Guarco of the International Co-operative
Alliance will welcome delegates to its
global conference in Rwanda on 14-17 Oct
9-11 Aug: Radical Routes
Summer Gathering
Radical Routes is a network of radical
co-ops whose members are committed
to working for positive social change.
Anyone interested in finding out
how worker co-ops and housing
co-ops can work for positive social
change is welcome to attend.
WHERE: Belper, Derbyshire
INFO: radicalroutes.org.uk
20-21 Sep: Energy4All AGM
& Conference – Lancaster
This annual event is a chance to share
learning and opportunities and help
set Energy4All’s direction as a group
of co-ops. The formal AGM takes place
in the morning, hosted by chair Mike
Smyth, followed by keynote speakers
Vivian Woodell (founder and former
CEO of the Phone Coop) and Natasha
Hoare (a masters student at the
University of Lancaster looking at how
E4A can understand and support the
development of its co-ops). There will
be three workshop activities in the
afternoon. Energy4All will cover the cost
of accommodation and food.
WHERE: Lancaster University
INFO: s.coop/23g4n
11-13 Oct: Co-operative Party Conference
The annual event will include debates on
policy; Q&As with elected representatives
from the UK, Scottish and Wales
parliaments and councils across the UK;
a series of informative and constructive
workshops and examples of best practice
from local co-ops. There are networking
opportunities, and members can take
part in the Party’s diversity networks
(including BAME, disability, LGBT+,
women and youth).
WHERE: Doubletree, Glasgow
INFO: s.coop/22h9f
14-17 Oct: ICA Co-operatives for
Development Global Conference
The conference will be structured around
plenary sessions, sectoral and thematic
seminars and discussion panels. It is
open to co-operators worldwide and also
to other civil society actors, development
agencies, policy makers, institutional
partners, government representatives,
researchers, and all those who are
concerned about development.
WHERE: Rwanda
INFO: kigali2019.coop
7 Nov: Practitioners’ Forum
Professional training event for people
operating in key roles in co-op businesses
large and small. Featuring a series of
specialist forums: communications;
finance; governance; HR; and membership,
with delegates able to mix and match
across forums.
WHERE: The Studio, Manchester
INFO: s.coop/23jas
26-28 Nov: Co-operative College
100 years: And now the future
Rochdale and its town hall will be the
venue for a highlight of the College’s
centenary year. Speakers include Prof.
Esther N. Gicheru (Principal, The
Co-operative University College of
Kenya), Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater
Manchester) and Angela Rayner (Labour
MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, Droylsden
and Failsworth). The conference will
include a Gala Dinner in the Grand Hall.
WHERE: Rochdale Town Hall
INFO: s.coop/22h9h
LOOKING AHEAD
28 Feb – 1 Mar 2020 : Co-operative Retail
Conference (Cheshire)
10-20 June - Co-op Congress (Rochdale)
50 | AUGUST 2019