co-operative party youth

Summerfest Youth

2011-06-23T17:51:00.002+01:00

This year Summerfest Youth will be held Aug 14 - 17th at the University of St. Andrews.

Summerfest has built a reputation both for being great fun and for being an educational experience.

We have serveral high profile speakers confirmed for the event and full programme details will be released in due course.

If you'd like to come along please speak to your local Party about being delegated. Most Parties around the UK send at least a small delegation to Summerfest. Otherwise you can book a place with this PDF form or now online HERE.

Spaces are limited and bookings are already coming into the office on a daily basis, so if you're interested in coming please get your booking to us ASAP.

There is an alternative to out failed banking system, it’s just we’d rather bitch about bankers

2011-02-17T13:46:00.001Z

By @benfurber

It’s just stupid. Yes, its fun and easy, but we could be talking about the serious alternative to the system instead of whining about banker bonuses. ‘Re-mutualisation’ might have a lot of syllables, but it should be the word to follow every bad, populist joke about bankers and bonuses.

Northern Rock is the target for the Co-operative Party, with Gareth Thomas leading the way:

"Despite a coalition commitment to help mutuals, thus far in financial services there has been little of note. Mutuals and financial mutuals in particular are proof that there is another way"

Financial reform may seem nuanced and complex compared to the anti-cuts campaign, but putting real people back in command of banking is a clear way to make lasting change well after everyone’s bored of anti-banker jokes.

Labour passed substantial measures to power people wanting to put their money somewhere safe, but key parts the skilfully named ‘Co-operative Societies and Credit Unions Act 2010’ (Promoted by the Co-operative Party) is still waiting to be dealt with. And this Government has passed the buck when it comes to Northern Rock.

Yesterday Gareth Thomas led a debate in Westminster Hall debating the re-mutualisation of Northern Rock.

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Cameron’s Big Society: putting the ‘con’ back in Conservative

2011-01-19T13:31:00.001Z

Laying out the case for why David Cameron’s Big Society is little more than a vanity project.

Since his election as Conservative party leader in 2005, David Cameron has employed widely his rhetoric of the ‘Big Society’. Famously reneging on 18 years of Thatcherite government in claiming, “There is such thing as society. It’s just not the same thing as the state” he attempted to give a name to his re-branding of the right-wing. He laid down a gauntlet for his vision of fairness in the 21st Century; a vision for which he claimed principles of social fairness were now at conservative’s core. The devil, however, has been in the detail. And Prime Minister Cameron has offered little more than skin-deep spin and a policy agenda set within the narrow perimeters of an ideologically small state.

The Big Society does, in essence, play on inherent worries by individuals that an over-powering, bureaucratic state could restrict their liberation to pursue social and economic freedoms. Legitimate concerns, all of them, but the issue isn’t in whether we have problems in society, it’s how we go about challenging them. The Cameron ‘Big Society’ has, to date, lacked any sense of definition or - more importantly - politics. He’s managed to talk about the need for a better democracy, and yet opposed any serious constitutional reform. He argues for greater social equality and reduced economic disparity, whilst turning shy of tackling the core macroeconomic causes and pursuing a free-market agenda. The entire ‘Big Society philosophy’ is unravelling to be little more than a series of populist sound-bites created to disguise a stagnant Conservative agenda.

Much of the program spoken about can be scaled back to a desired increase in the role of charities within society. “Charities will be the bedrock”, he tells Conservative conference. What he doesn’t tell them, however, is that charities rely upon government for 40% of their funding, and will be amongst the earliest casualties of the coalition’s rapid cuts project. A tenth of all UK charities have already been forced to slash workers’ pay or, in increasing numbers of situations, lay employees off. Combine this with swelling financial pressures on the individual, and you have a situation not “good” and nurturing for third sector organisations, but worryingly destructive.

Global studies have shown that in times of economic downturn people’s willingness to make charitable donations disperses. The less disposable income someone has, the less likely they are to give it up for charitable causes. For Cameron to argue that in times of austerity - when VAT on everyday goods has been increased, wages are being squeezed and pension programs curtailed - that people should “give more” simply illustrates a lack of understanding for ordinary people’s lives.

However, it’s at the mercy of the left that the principle of a more active, engaged and gregarious society is ignored. It was a failing of the outgoing Labour government to outline only why we need the state to support and help individuals, but not to explain the roles community plays in a unified model of citizenship. Tony Blair began his leadership of the Labour party, in 1994, by outlining a vision of ‘social-ism’; viewing community activism and mutual, co-operative endeavor as the substratum to a fairer society. However this wasn’t an agenda sufficiently publicised in government, and so grew a disconnect between the increasing standards in public services, and the role for which communities and individuals had to play in them. The human relationship was lost.

David Cameron has attempted to exploit this void by re-characterising the centre-ground, branding Labour as technocratic and managerial in a backdoor bid to shrink the size of the state to be as small and limited as possible. By neglecting to emphasise the role of the public in public services, people are resultantly less likely to recognise the destructive effects in their dismantling.

The challenge faced now is to reveal the Big Society for the ideological smoke-screen it is. Labour must ensure the wheels on this Boris bike well and truly come off, exposing the spin as nothing more than a Cameronite vanity project. To do so, progressives must set out their own agenda; an agenda based on fact, history, and vision: the vision of a co-operative ‘good society’.

Ed Miliband has spoken of this vision since taking the leadership. He told Andrew Marr, “It’s about the good society. The local institutions like post offices and corner shops which hold-up communities and their values.” If the Big Society myth is to be dismantled with credibility, Labour must show commitment from the top to community institutions, illustrating that we recognise the flaws to a market fundamentalist agenda on local high-streets.

But the step forward isn’t in fact so much about renewing, but more nearly re-discovering our tradition of community activism.

David Miliband’s ‘Movement For Change’ has set a key mantle for achieving this goal. Through the endeavor to forge ourselves in local organisations, campaigning groups and charities we can win back the trust of communities, and begin to affirm our guiding principles in a way people can engage with. It was the very concept of a good society for which Keir Hardie founded the Labour party, believing that people not markets are the bedrocks to fairness. Radically reforming the democratic wing of our socialism, to be a bottom up party, based on reciprocity and mutualism not punitive managerialism, can enable the Labour movement to regain the political ground of concord in our society.

Labour is the natural home to what the electorate believes David Cameron’s Big Society to be. If we fail to make clear our position on the role of the third sector and neighborliness in building a good society, we risk looking statist and out-of-touch. In fact, if we fail to combatively overcome the Big Society smoke-screen, the centre-ground will have been redefined against us, and Labour could face a generation out of power.

Be the forbearers of community activism. It’s what we do best.

Benjamin Butterworth is a student at the London School of Economics and Labour/Co-op activist. Follow him on twitter @benjaminbutter

London Event

2011-01-11T13:28:00.002Z

On January 17th Co-operative Party Youth will be hosting an event in Parliament with Gareth Thomas MP.

Gareth is chair of the Co-operative Party but also Shadow Higher Education Minister. With Higher education funding being slashed by 80% and fees in England being tripled, this has never been a more controversial subject.

Gareth will be speaking about the folly of Tory policies in this area and outlining the Labour position as he did in memorable fashion during the crunch commons debate.

If you're young, a student or will be a student and a member of either the Co-operative or Labour Parties you should come along.

17th Jan 7pm C'ttee Rm 7 - Westminster Palace.

2010-08-26T14:51:00.001+01:00

Youth Reception @ Co-operative Party Conference

Co-operative Party Conference is on 10, 11, 12 September at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff.

Co-operative Party Youth will be there in force engaging and influencing the Party as it meets to discuss the major policy issues facing the Labour & Co-operative movements.

As with previous years Co-operative Party Youth will hold a Youth Reception at conference where all members will be more than welcome.

Our Youth reception will be held on Friday 10th September at 8.30pm in the Owain Glyndwr on St. John's Sq., Cardiff a short distance from the conference venue.

Please come along if you can!

It's also worth noting that visitors can attend Co-operative Party Conference for FREE!

See you in Cardiff!

You can be a Cllr!

2010-06-29T13:44:00.002+01:00

Emma Hoddinott the Co-operative Party Youth rep for Yorkshire & the Humber organised an event last week called "You Can be a Councillor" where young people from around the region, members of Co-operative Party Youth and Young Labour met for training and advice on getting selected and elected.

You can watch the video below:

2010-04-08T16:08:00.002+01:00

Co-operative Party Youth Announces General Election Plans

Co-operative Party Youth will be hitting the road during the election campaign visiting key Labour & Co-operative seats across Great Britain – Fighting hard for a 4th term with co-operative values at its core.

We will be starting in the north in our 7 seat battle bus and working our way south. The highly marginal seat of Edinburgh North & Leith will be our first stop and we’ll be finishing up in Brighton Kemptown.

How can you help?

Below is the timetable for where the battle bus will be during the course of the election. To help you can join the bus – either for the full tour or just for parts of it. We’ll pay fares to get to us. A few days help will make a massive contribution to our efforts to elect a record number of Labour/Co-operative MPs.

Also if the bus is visiting a seat near you, come and join us! We’ll cover travelling expenses so you’re not out of pocket. If you’ve never campaigned before, training and support will be available, so don’t be shy.

So join us on Co-operative Party Youth’s epic tour of Britain. To come join the bus or for further information please contact me on j.russo@party.coop or 07545 925 121.

Timetable

Edinburgh North & Leith – 13 & 14 April

Barrow in Furness – 15 & 16 April

Liverpool Wavertree – 17 & 18 April

Morley & Outwood - 19 April

Halifax - 20 & 21 April

The Wrekin - 22 April

Corby - 23 & 24 April

Swansea - 25 & 26 April

Luton South - 27 & 28 April

Stevenage - 29 & 30 April

Croydon Central - 1 May

Harrow West - 2 & 3 May

Brighton Kemptown- 4 & 5 May

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2010-03-31T10:40:00.004+01:00

Bank on Owen

The Scottish Co-operative Party has released a video to go along with their 'Bank on Owen' campaign. The campaign's purpose is to highlight the failure of casino capitalism and show that mutual models where the financial institutions are owned by the people is a far more sustainable platform for the banking sector.

The campaign is determined therefore to get one of the Scottish clearing banks to put a portrait of Robert Owen on a bank note to commemorate 2012 being the UN's international year of the co-operative.

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John Woodcock writes for Co-op Youth!

2010-01-13T10:12:00.004Z

I am very proud to be an official Labour & Co-operative candidate - the first ever in Barrow & Furness - because co-op values have always been my values and it is important for me to put them at the heart of my offer to people here. At a time when there is a general distrust in politics and uncertainty over our economy, we can show we are on people’s side by supporting co-operative solutions that are making a real difference on the ground.

The fact is that co-operative and mutual solutions can and do make a real difference to people in constituencies like mine. They are the practical solutions run by Barrow & Furness people, which are changing people’s lives. For example, the Walney Island Credit Union offers an alternative to the loan sharks offering 300% loans on the street, whilst Baywind produces co-operative energy used by the community and The Co-operative Food stores across Furness offer those who use them their share of the profits twice a year.

I am always amazed at the breadth of the co-operative and mutual sector and it is clear from the Co-operative Party’s General Election manifesto that there is huge scope for more co-operative and mutual ideas to become reality so we can move on from the financial collapse to a better, more stable future. These ideas are genuine solutions offering an alternative way of working and if am lucky enough to get elected to Parliament I will do all I can to make these ideas reality as part of Labour’s vision for the future.

John Woodcock

Labour & Co-op PPC for Barrow & Furness

Join Co-op Youth North West on our campaign day with John in his Barrow constituency on Sunday 24th January - e-mail coopyouthnw@googlemail.com or see http://tiny.cc/barrow for more info!

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50,000 go on The Wave...

2009-12-07T17:04:00.003Z

More than 50,000 people marched on Saturday on the 'The Wave' march. Labour activists were out in force, with Ed Miliband also marching and listening to people's views. You can have a look at some photos on the Facebook page for Ed's Pledge.

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Drinks after The Wave tomorrow hosted by Co-operative Party Youth in Red Lion 3pm

2009-12-04T16:50:00.003Z

Quick message to say to all going on The Wave that Co-operative Party Youth will be having drinks upstairs at The Red Lion pub near Westminster at 3pm after the march. Please come along!

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Co-operative Schools on BBC News!

2009-12-03T16:57:00.002Z

Have a read of this story on the BBC News website on Co-operative Schools...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8391006.stm

A network has been created to connect the growing number of co-operative school trusts in England. There are now 26 co-operative schools running in 15 trusts - with a further 120 schools in the pipeline.

The first co-operative school was opened near Stockport last year and the Children's Secretary Ed Balls wants 200 by the end of next year. "Co-operative school trusts put power in the hands of those who know best what is needed," said Mr Balls.

The network will provide support for head teachers and governors entering co-operative school trusts and allow existing trusts to share best practice. Mr Balls, who is a Labour and Co-operative MP, describes the push for more co-operative trusts as "a major new initiative in mainstream education in this country".

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Talk by Tessa Jowell on co-operative public services

2009-11-30T21:38:00.003Z

What: "The mutual moment: How progressives can capture the ownership agenda" Talk by Progress
When: 18.00-19.00 15 December
Where: Grand Committee Room, House of Commons, Westminster

In this speech, Tessa Jowell will lay out why mutualism offers the opportunity to forge a new relationship between citizen and state and redefine the notion of public ownership. She will suggest how mutuals, co-ops and social enterprises might play a much greater role in reformed public services, and the rights local communities and public sector workers should have in that process. The Minister for the Cabinet Office will contrast this progressive approach, strongly rooted in Labour's past, with the Conservatives' 'easyGovernment' view of the state.

To register for a place please email mark@progressives.org.uk

Progress in association with the Co-operative Party.

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URGENT - Email these MPs to get a Financial Inclusion Bill tabled!

2009-11-26T15:53:00.001Z

HELP CHANGE THE WAY BANKS DO BUSINESS

Today we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to help buid a financial system that works for us all, an economy which puts people before profit.

Given the unprecedented support that our financial institutions have received in the last year, it is vital that they recognise their responsibility to us all – whose taxes, jobs and livelihoods have been put at risk by their failure. All of us should have equal access to routine financial services and credit within their means. Banks should no longer merely be able to cherry pick the most profitable customers, but ensure that their operations serve every part of the community equally.

This is why the Co-operative Party is today launching its campaign for a Financial Inclusion Bill. Based on the successful Community Reinvestment Act in the USA, it would ensure that all financial institutions must engage with, design services for, and invest in people from all geographical areas and income levels.

Parliament held a ballot this morning to select which MPs will be permitted to introduce a piece of legislation which has a chance of becoming law. Because of the upcoming election, only the top five have a realistic chance of changing the law. It is therefore crucial that we can persuade one of them to adopt the Financial Inclusion Bill.

Back in September, our Policy Officer Robbie Erbmann set out for LabourList the reasons for the Financial Inclusion Bill. Read his article here.

The five MPs, including email addresses, who came top of the ballot are:

• Brian Iddon (Labour, Bolton South East): iddonb@parliament.uk
• David Chaytor (Labour, Bury North): chaytord@parliament.uk
• Andrew Gwynne (Labour, Denton and Reddish): gwynnea@parliament.uk
• Albert Owen (Labour, Ynys Môn): owena@parliament.uk
• Julie Morgan (Labour, Cardiff North): morganj@parliament.uk

Please can you take a few minutes of your time today to email at least one of these MPs (preferably all five) and ask them to please adopt the Financial Inclusion Bill. I have included a sample letter for you to personalise and adapt below:

This is our last good chance to create a new law to rebalance our financial system before the general election. It is therefore CRUCIAL that we get as many people as possible to write to MPs today. It will make a real difference.

Kind Regards,

Michael Stephenson
General Secretary

DRAFT LETTER TO THE FIVE MPS

Dear NAME OF MP,

Congratulations on your success in the 2009-2010 Private Members Bills’ ballot. I am writing to ask you to please adopt the Financial Inclusion Bill.

Given the unprecedented support that our financial institutions have received in the last year, it is vital that they recognise the obligation of their responsibility to society – whose taxes, jobs and livelihoods have been put at risk by their failure. The purpose of a Financial Inclusion Bill is to create a new settlement between providers of financial services and the people of the UK and ensure that all people should have equal access to routine financial services and credit within their means.

I am not one of your constituents but understand what a rare opportunity you have been granted via the ballot. I think there is a considerable lack of confidence in our current banking system and believe that this Bill, if successful, could help to ensure that we have a financial system that works in all of our interests.

The idea has the backing of the Co-operative Party and a number of campaigning organisations, which will give it considerable weight when being debated in Parliament and I believe it is realistic to believe that it has a good chance of success. I think that your sponsorship of this Bill would be in the interests of all citizens in this country and I would therefore be very grateful if you would please adopt this Bill.

Yours sincerely,

ENDS

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Co-operative Group Climate Change Debate TOMORROW!

2009-11-23T13:24:00.000Z

'The Wave: Co-operation in Copenhagen?'
Date: Tuesday 24th November
Time: 7pm
Place: Donald English Room, Westminster Central Hall,Storey's Gate, London. SW1H 9NH.

We know you really care about the environment. So make your voice heard on 5th December at The Wave. This family-friendly march through London is one of our last chances to convince the Government to tale the lead in combating climate change.

Before then, we're giving you the opportunity to explore the key climate change issues at ‘The Wave: Co-operation in Copenhagen?' – a special event being held in London.

Here, a panel of experts – including our own Sustainable Development Manager Chris Shearlock and Oxfam UK's Head of Campaigns Martin Kirk, along with Ashok Sinha, Director of Stop Climate Chaos – will discuss everything from the need for cross-country co-operation in tackling climate change, why the Copenhagen talks are the last chance to take decisive action and your crucial role in The Wave.

To reserve your place, call 0800 015 1147. Refreshments will be provided.

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The Wave - Join us on the 05 December

2009-11-23T13:11:00.005Z

Together with The Co-operative Group and SERA - Labour Environment Campaign, we want you to come along to The Wave - a procession through the streets of London on climate change.

Join us and other Labour folk marching on The Wave, to show our support for Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband's work to get an ambitious, effective and just deal at Copenhagen.

On Saturday 5 December 2009, ahead of the crucial UN climate summit in Copenhagen, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life will flow through the streets of London to demonstrate their support for a safe climate future for all. Part of a global series of public actions, The Wave will call on world leaders to take urgent action to secure a fair international deal to stop global warming exceeding the danger threshold of 2 degrees C.

We believe that Labour should be proud of its record on Climate Change and therefore it is really important that we stand proud and make our voices heard by marching together.

If you are looking to travel to the event subsidised travel from around the country is being provided for members of The Co-operative and Oxfam Supporters. To find out more go to www.co-operative.coop/thewave.

Alternatively Transport Group Stagecoach is supporting The Wave by offering reduced price coach travel to both London and Glasgow on its popular megabus.com. The special offer means it will cost you just £2 each way plus a 50p booking fee! Book online at www.megabus.com/uk or by calling 0900 160 0900.

At the start of the march, we'll be meeting in Grovesnor Square. Look out for Labour Party / Unison / Co-operative Party banners, or call me (David) on 07749 702352.

Coming to the march? Let us know by commenting below!

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Why open source software is important to the co-operative movement

2009-11-10T20:09:00.003Z

Our manifesto recognises the importance of the community-based development of software that the open source software movement champions.

When you get a piece of software, why is it that more often than not, you lack access to its source code? Whilst this might not seem important to the overwhelming majority of users, more technical users would find themselves with the flexibility needed to adapt software to their needs. As users, not just employee developers, can contribute changes to open source software, it is often cheaper than their closed-source alternatives.

Most people will probably use open source software every day without realising it. I am typing this blog post in Firefox, an open source browser which has just reached its fifth birthday. Firefox is hugely popular because its open source, co-operative approach allows its users to shape its development. Even if you are not a Firefox user, you will probably access websites that are powered by the open source Apache server software.

Some of the most promising pieces of open source software are still very much in obscurity. The general public has not heard of Linux operating systems or OpenOffice.org. The private, public and third sectors are unwilling to adopt such software, because their staff have been trained in the Microsoft alternative. The schooling system, however, only trains people in Microsoft products, because that is what employers use. This is circular logic, and is an obstacle that must be defeated in order to further open source software.

The situation might become different in countries where IT is not already a daily part of life. Developing countries often use Linux in their education systems, because it saves them having to buy a Windows licence for every machine. It also often demands less resources than Windows, allowing cheaper hardware to be bought. Perhaps businesses in those countries will then use Linux too, because that is what their labour force know how to use.

Co-operation goes hand in hand with open source software. Co-operators believe in self-help, open source software allows users to fix their own problems. Co-operators believe in education, and open source projects often involve this and go to lengths to educate users about the software and open source movement. Open source software often builds on other open source software, an example of 'Co-operation among Co-operatives'. Perhaps the most important thing that the movements have in common is a concern for the community; open source software's aim is often to aid education, to help others and to help communities technologically progress.

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the feeling's mutual

2009-11-03T17:30:00.011Z

The credit crunch that has paralysed our economy was caused by greedy banks gambling with our money and making massive profits through high risk deals. When those bets failed they took us all down with them.

But mutual financial organisations like building socieites and credit unions have weathered the economic crisis better than the high street banks. Because they are owned and controlled by their customers they have taken fewer risks and put the interests of ordinary people first.

That is why the Co-operative Party is running a major national campaign for those banks that failed us, like Northern Rock, to become mutuals again.

We want a stable financial system with a strong mutual sector.
We want to see an end to greedy bankers gambling with your money.
We want to reverse the damage the Conservatives did to our building socieities when they encouraged them to de-mutualise, and
We want an economy that puts people before profit.

If you agree, be part of our campaign:
1. Sign up on our website
2. Join our Facebook group

.

the people's rail

2009-11-03T17:20:00.000Z

Sick of delays? Sick of nobody to complain to?

Join the campaign to give passengers a say in how our railways are run. Support the Co-operative Party in making Network Rail the People's Rail.

The People's Rail Charter:

We support the People’s Rail campaign to give the British public real power over its rail network.
Long- suffering rail users deserve better than a network run for the convenience of managers, with no-one taking responsibility when things go wrong.
We call on Network Rail to change the way it’s run, in order to give real control to passengers and the public.

To support our campaign for a better, more accountable rail network, you can
1. Sign the People’s Rail charter
2. Spread the word
3. Email the Office of Rail Regulation

Find out more at www.peoplesrail.org.uk

values & principles

2009-11-03T10:52:00.004Z

A co-operative is defined as an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.

The co-operative movement is based on a set of values and principles.

Values
Co-operatives are based on the values of:

self-help
self-responsibility
democracy
equality
equity
solidarity

In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.

Principles
The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.

1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.

3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.

5th Principle: Education, Training and Information
Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

6th Principle: Co-operation Among Co-operatives
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the Co-operative Movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7th Principle: Concern for Community
Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.

why co-operative ideas are great (+ see some examples)

2009-11-02T22:35:00.004Z

We think that co-operative ideals are great. Here are 5 examples why:

1. Football Supporter Trusts
We have seen the creation of more than 120 football supporter trusts, with more than 75,000 members, from a Party initiative to create Supporters Direct, which puts fans back in control of their football clubs.

2. Co-operative Schools
With 25 co-op schools now up and running Ed Balls, Labour-Co-op MP & Secretary of State for Children, Schools & Families, has set a target for more than 200 co-op trusts by the end of 2010.
The co-op model means local communities - from parents to community groups and local businesses to the pupils themselves - can come together to give input, help govern and have direct power over the running of their local schools. See what Ed Balls had to say about them.

3. Foundation Hospitals & Primary Care Trusts
32 Foundation hospitals have been established, with many more in the pipeline – already with memberships exceeding 400,000. Health professionals are also establishing their own mutuals, with Primary Care mutuals providing out of hours care in many parts of the country.

4. Leading the push for Fairtrade, and against global poverty & climate change
The Co-operative Group been supporting Fairtrade since the inception of the Fairtrade mark back in 1994. Through ongoing campaigning, product innovation and leadership we have helped develop the UK as one of the largest Fairtrade markets in the world, supporting millions of growers and producers in developing countries.
Co-operative Party members & activists have long been active in campaigns for global social justice, from the Make Poverty History to campaign to action on climate change.
And not to forget our very own Chair of the Co-operative Party, Gareth Thomas MP, is Minister of State in the Department for International Development.

5. Co-operative Housing is turning run down estates into vibrant communities
Co-op housing boosts tenants’ involvement in their community, in some cases right from the initial stages: choosing a good architect, approving the designs, selecting fixtures and fittings. But most importantly the model engages tenants in the on going management of their properties. See some examples.

In all, there are more than half a million more members of mutuals today as a result of our work. We will continue to push the barriers of knowledge and understanding of mutuality, in order to ensure that the voices of citizens and employees are properly heard.

For a more detailed look of our policies go here.

changing the way we do business

2009-11-02T22:05:00.003Z

As we seek to rebuild the economy there has never been a time in which the co-operative and mutual ideal has been more important. As the global economy faces difficult challenges, we need to pioneer a new way of doing business; that will underpin the long term stability of the UK economy, and ensure that all people will be able to share in its rewards.

Supporting co-operative and mutual enterprise
Co-operative and mutuals differ from their PLC competitors in one crucial respect; they exist to provide a service for their members rather than to generate profits for external shareholders. As a key part of the plurality of the UK economy, the Government should ensure that every assistance is given to the preservation and creation of co-operative and mutual businesses.

Employee Ownership
Giving employees a stake in their business provides workers with economic gains and creates companies that are responsive to their frontline staff. Firms where staff have a big ownership stake and a say in decisions do not just create happier workers, they also make more productive businesses. We believe that the achievements of the co-owned sector should be recognised and built upon.

Fighting the Recession
In face of what could potentially be the most serious downturn since the depression of the 1930s, we must utilise all the resources, skills and capital that we have at our disposal. Co-operative and mutual enterprises can play a key role in responding to the recession, mitigating its impact and creating a more resilient economy.

Remutualisation
The financial crisis has come at a serious cost to everyone in the UK; whose savings have been risked, whose taxes may have to rise and whose livelihoods are threatened by the recession that has followed. It is vital that we learn from our mistakes and build more stable foundations for our financial sector in the future. That is why we believe all fully nationalised banks should be converted into mutuals, as this is the best solution for ensuring a stable, long-term future for these companies, and making sure that the risk taken by taxpayers will deliver for consumers.
Get involved in 'The Feeling's Mutual' campaign .

Access to Finance
We need to do more to ensure that our financial services industry meets the needs of the whole UK economy. In this country it is primarily credit unions that offer affordable credit and banking services to thousands who would otherwise be unbanked. It is important that the Government continues to assist credit unions to ensure that they are strong and sustainable. This will involve expanding the range of services that credit unions are able to offer so that they can offer the maximum assistance to ordinary people in these testing economic times.

A New Settlement Between Banks and Society
Given the unprecedented support our financial institutions have received in the past year, it is vital that they recognise the obligation of their responsibility to society. We should introduce a Financial Inclusion Act, which would ensure that all people have equal access to routine financial services and credit within their means.

Land Reform
As we seek to bring stability to the financial system, it is only right that we aim to do the same for the property markets. A key policy concern for the future has to be to keep growth in house prices consistent with other parts of the economy. We should use taxation to change incentives within the property market, ensuring that we incentivise the productive
use of land rather than expected capital gains in an upward market.

Investing in a co-operative future
Investment needs to be not only focused on what it can generate for individuals but also what it could provide for the community. The self-help model of funding can not only offer a safe and robust investment for individuals, but also provide us with services that can collectively improve our lives.

Public Infrastructure
At a time when public sector borrowing remains high and private sector
capacity to invest remains limited, we should explore the creation of new mutual organisations
to build tomorrow’s infrastructure

An economy in all of our interests
For the foreseeable future, it is likely that most significant enterprises will continue to be owned by shareholders. Building a private sector more in tune with co-operative values is necessary if we are to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Through reconnecting our firms with all of their stakeholders and society we can transform the nature of business in this country – building an economy that acts in all of our interests.

For full details of our poliices on economic issues, please view our draft manifesto.

our policies

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Our manifesto
After a year-and-a-half long process and the input of hundreds of Party members, last weekend at our annual conference the Co-operative Party launched its draft manifesto for the next general election. This will be used as the basis for discussion with our sister party in the coming months - and form the core of the election document whenever it is held over the next 8 months.

We want to:

Read the Summary by following the above links, or download the full document here.

Our Values & Principles
A co-operative is defined as an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.

The co-operative movement is based on a set of values and principles - read them here.

Additional Policy Documents

Energy:
"Collective Power: A new way to purchase energy" by Robbie Erbmann, Hugh Goulbourne and Piya Malik.

Download it here.

Transport:
"People's Rail: A mutually run, publically accountable Network Rail" by Robbie Erbmann & Peter Hunt. Part of The People's Rail campaign.

Download it here.

Housing:
"New foundations: unlocking the potential for affordable homes" by David Rodgers of CDS Co-operatives.
This paper aims to make a new form of home ownership - co-operative housing - available to thousands of people.

Download it here

people based public services

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Public ownership does not have to mean top-down management from Whitehall or Town Halls. Local communities must be given the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives through partnerships with government. We believe that co-operative and mutual models offer the best model for the reform of public service delivery. These provide the efficiency gains of the private sector whilst providing real democratic accountability, giving users, employees and other stakeholders with a real say in how their organisations are run.

Making Healthcare Mutual
Through the greater involvement of staff, users and local communities in the NHS, it has been demonstrated that we can not only strengthen citizenship, but also build services based on the frontline expertise of staff as well as the needs to the people that they serve. Moving to a mutual model has transformed the way in which services are delivered, making them more responsive to local people and focused on the needs of patients.

Transforming Social Care
Through coming together collectively, direct payment and individual budget recipients can improve the quantity and quality of the services that they receive, and ensure a decent working environment for the carers which they rely on. We should ensure that all service-users and carers will have access to a direct payments mutual in their local community.

Children, Schools and Families
Co-operative trust schools provide a framework in which everybody with a stake in the school’s success – parents, teachers and support staff, local community organisations and even pupils – have the opportunity to be involved in running it. These principles can also be applied across children’s services.

By giving communities a sense of ownership over Sure Start services, we can do more to help centres deliver to all those in need of their services, particularly ‘hard to reach groups.’ Co-operative structures also can play a role in encouraging working across different providers, and have the potential to act as local delivery agents for the Children’s Plan.

Broadcasting
The BBC is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world and a pillar of Britain’s cultural life. Yet with huge sums of money spent annually on services, the public deserves to have more of a say in the package of programs and services that are delivered. For the BBC to become truly accountable, all television license holders should be given real say over how the BBC Trust is run.

Public Sector Procurement
In both national and local government, more needs to be done to support smarter and more strategic commissioning and procurement of both goods and services. The current and future financial pressures on the public sector and the desire for efficiency savings make getting the most from public resources essential. Mutual and social enterprises tend to provide procurers with services that are more focused on the end user and provide added value in terms of meeting wider social and environmental goals.

Open Source Software
Open source technology is software development methodology created by a community of people dedicated to working together in a co-operative manner. By levelling the playing field and allowing open source to be as competitive as possible we can ensure that taxpayers get maximum value for money from Government IT, something that is more important than ever during the worldwide financial climate. The Government should ensure that, where possible, open source software is used as part of an effective procurement strategy.

creating sustainable communities

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Government cannot build sustainable communities alone. Doing so requires trusting people to make decisions over the services that they use, as well as the control of public services. From tackling climate change to building new affordable homes, co-operative and mutual organisations can deliver new and radical changes to the society in which we live. The role of the co-operative sector is crucial as we seek to move to a more sustainable society.

Opening up Participatory Democracy
If we are to rebuild our political system and our economy, we will need to find new ways to increase participation and devolve power within our society. We commend the work that has been done to develop participatory budgeting in this country and believe that greater measures should be taken to involve all of us in how our money is spent. We should also explore how new technologies could combine delegation with social networking – to ensure that those who take part in debates constitute a representative sample of the population.

Transferring Power to Communities
Local Government should do much more to deliver power and ownership of local services to the communities that depend on them. We believe that community-based and new mutual organisations have a vital role to play in running local services, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, engaging young people and regenerating run-down neighbourhoods.

Energy and Climate Change
Experts have a tendency to see solutions to fuel poverty, energy security and climate change as competing, conflicting and irresolvable. Yet a movement towards communities collectively owning their own energy has the potential to meet all three of these challenges head on. The ‘collective power’ model provides a blueprint for how this can be done – building a broad based social movement by combining an appeal to self interest with a commitment to combating climate change.

Delivering High-Quality Affordable Housing
The tectonic shift that has occurred in the global financial markets means that the housing landscape in the UK will never be the same again. One result will be that many thousands of UK households will be caught in the gap between affordable rent and home ownership. The ‘New Foundations’ model is a new form of intermediate home ownership that can ensure these new and emerging households have access to a decent home that they can afford, and allows them to accumulate a financial stake.

Building Stronger Communities
Through housing co-operative and other mutual organisations, tenants and residents have taken real control over decisions that affect their lives and created strong and cohesive communities. We should take action to embed co-operative and mutual housing solutions at the heart of its overall strategy. Local authorities and other park providers should explore the use of community land trusts for parks and open spaces.

Food, Farming and Rural Communities
The decline in the availability of rural services has been well documented, with pubs, shops and other services closing at a faster rate than ever before. Rural co-operatives and social enterprises are often the only viable alternative for rural communities looking to retain or re-introduce a service in areas of private or public market failure. We should establish a ‘community right to try’ in rural communities, which would give them the option and time frame of six months to consider taking over a service.

Tackling Crime and Disorder
The role of local crime fighting partnerships has been crucial in making the reduction of crime a key priority for local authorities and other partners as well as for the police. Introducing a broad based and open membership to these bodies can make a real difference in their effectiveness, and drive further reduction of the level of crime within our communities.

Animal Rights
Throughout its history, the Co-operative Movement has had a proud record on animal rights. We commend the work that this Government has done over the last ten years in this regard, and call for the full implementation of legislation to extend and improve the protection of animals.

Public Transport and Promoting Sustainable Travel
For over a year, the Co-operative Party has fought the ‘People’s Rail’ campaign to give the British public real power over Network Rail. Yet it is not just the rail network where there is an accountability gap. The recent forced nationalisation of the East Coast mainline demonstrates the degree to which private sector operators can often seek to socialise risk and privatise reward. The Government should use the opportunity created by nationalisation to create a new mutual provider as a public sector comparator to the other train operating companies.
Get involved in the 'People's Rail' campaign.

Culture and Sport
Cultural and sporting bodies play a powerful role in the life of the nation and often receive large subsidies. More needs to be done to ensure that they put the needs and interests of their fans and enthusiasts first. Giving ordinary people a say over the way that these organisations are run is the best way to ensure that this occurs.

For full details of our poliices on community issues, please view our draft manifesto.

a new international settlement

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Perhaps the most important thing the financial crisis has taught us is that in the modern world, no country is able to solve all of its problems on its own. As we face the greatest challenge to the world economy in modern times, the looming catastrophe of climate change and the continued emergency of global poverty; co-operation between nations has never been more important. This is essential to creating a new world economy – which is designed to provide for all of our long term interests, rather than short term gains for the few.

From speculation to long term investment
The speculative nature of investment within the global economy rewards short term decision making and reduces the accountability of business to its owners, including the majority of ordinary citizens through their pensions. To help ensure our future economic stability, we should campaign for the global introduction of taxes on capital transfers in the international stock, credit derivative and currency markets through agreement at the G20 group of nations and the UN.

Improving economic information
The events leading up to the financial crisis were characterised by a failure to provide the right economic information, and a lack of independence by those who did. Tackling the agency problems inherent in the supply of economic information is vital to ensuring our future stability.

Protecting the future of our planet
Our continuing reliance on fossil fuels places an unsustainable and dangerous burden on our environment, as well as aggravating international tensions and jeopardising progress towards social justice. We should continue to advance international action on climate change, playing a leading role in pressing for and delivering international agreement.

Tackling Global Poverty
The Co-operative Movement is one of the largest organised segments of civil society with over 800 million members, and plays a crucial role across a wide spectrum of human aspiration and need. The Government should work with the Co-operative Movement and its international partners to set up a co-operative agency for international development to help build modern and effective movements in the developing
world.

Trade Justice
We believe that trade is the best tool in the fight against global poverty. Two areas are key to rebalancing the global trading system: fair trade and trade justice.

Governing the Internet
The United Kingdom has led the way in terms of decisions about how to govern the internet. The co-operative approach undertaken is vital as it continues to expand exponentially in terms of individual business activity and new applications.

For full details of our poliices on global issues, please view our draft manifesto.

about us

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Co-operative Party Youth is the network for Party members aged 30 and under.

In 2009, young members elected a national youth committee to lead Co-operative Party Youth and work with the National Executive member for young people.

The National Youth Committee 2009-2011 are:

NEC member: Kiran Mahil
East of England: Paul Schroder
East Midlands: Jamie McMahon
London: Luciana Berger - @lucianaberger
North East: Joe Anderson - @computerjoe
North West: Kevin Peel - @KevPeel
Northen Ireland: Donal Lyons - @DonalLyons
Scotland: Yousuf Hamid @yousufhamid
South East: David Taylor - @DavidTaylor85 | Email
South West: Helen Eassom
Wales: Ian Ross
West Midlands: Lucy Seymour-Smith
Yorkshire & Humberside: Emma Hoddinott - @Emma_Hoddinott

If you want to hear more about the work of Co-operative Party Youth or come to one of our events, please contact Joseph Russo on j.russo@party.coop or 0207 367 4176.

For more information on The Co-operative Party please visit here.

about the co-operative party

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Putting people before profit

The co-operative and mutual concepts are based on the principle that individual and collective well-being is only sustainable by mutual dependence. The Co-operative Movement is based on the values and principles of self help, social responsibility and individual empowerment.

Created in 1917 by the UK Co-operative Movement, The Co-operative Party is its political arm. Together with its Parliamentary Group the Party works to raise awareness on the benefits of the co-operative and mutual models, and to influence Government into more co-operative action.

Our Labour-Co-operative MPs & Representatives in the House of Lords, Scottish Parliament & Welsh Assembly

The Co-operative party is the second largest centre left party and has representation in both Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh and London Assemblies, as well as over 350 local councillors.

House of Commons

House of Lords

Scottish Parliament

National Assembly for Wales

calendar of events

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thank you

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