“CO-OPERATIVES UNLEASHED – A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE”

Annual Seminar and 2018 AGM

TUESDAY, 16th October 2018 from 6.00 to 8.30. Registration with refreshments from 5.30.
Culturlann Centre, Falls Road, Belfast
To register for a free place go to https://cooperativealternatives2018seminar.eventbrite.co.uk

The New Economics Foundation (NEF) has launched an independent report, commissioned by the Co-operative Party, setting out an ambitious vision for a UK co-operative sector double the size it is today.

“Co-operatives Unleashed: Doubling the Size of the Co-operative Economy” addresses these two fundamental questions. ‘If co-operatives are better businesses that can help create a better economy, society and environment, why they have not thrived in UK? And why have they thrived elsewhere?” The report calls for significant expansion of the UK co-operative sector, bringing it closer into line with other countries.

Co-operative Alternatives have supported the development of the co-operative sector for the past five years and with our successes we also bring concerns for missed opportunities. Interestingly, the report highlights the need for a Co-operative Development Agency in Northern Ireland as one of the key aspects to enable the growth of the sector. Co-operative Alternatives welcomes the recommendations and encourage this local debate. If you are a co-operative, a co-operator, or simply interested in a different type of economy, join us at this seminar. We will discuss the findings of the report with Claire McCarthy who commissioned the report and debate them with local co-operative analyst Paul Gosling.

Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Tony McMullan from the local Co-operative Party.

Download the full report here: https://neweconomics.org/uploads/files/co-ops-unleashed.pdf

Our speakers

Claire McCarthy has been the General Secretary of the Co-operative Party since November 2015. She is responsible for implementing key strategic objectives and reports directly to the Party’s National Executive Committee. For 2 years prior to this, she was the Co-operative Party’s Head of External and Political Affairs, leading the Party’s policy, public affairs and communications work.
Claire joined the Co-operative Party from national charity 4Children where she was Director of Public Affairs. Previously Claire was a government Special Adviser in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Communities and Local Government and the Northern Ireland Office.
Claire is a member of the Advisory Panel for the Changing Work Centre and the Labour Party’s National Policy Forum. As a member of the Independent Commission on the Future of Work, co-chaired by Tom Watson MP and Helen Mountsfield QC, she contributed substantially to the Commission’s recent report.

Claire can be contacted at: gensec@party.coop and on Twitter at @coopClaire

Paul Gosling freelance journalist for nearly 30 years, Paul has written for most quality UK and Irish national newspapers. Paul is also a renowned book author and has a background in co-operative development.

Tiziana O’Hara is currently a Co-operative Development Officer and a Founder Member of Co-operative Alternatives

SEMINAR AND 2018 AGM AGENDA
5.30 – 7.30 Seminar
5.30 Registration, Tea & Coffee with sandwiches.
6.00 Co-operative Alternative Chair welcome
6.05 Claire McCarthy
6.20 Tiziana O’Hara
6.35 Paul Gosling
6.50 Panel discussion chaired by Tony McMullan
7.25 Conclusion and thanks

7.30 – 8.00 Co-operative Alternatives AGM
Introductions and welcome to members by the Chair
Guest Researcher Ellie Perrin (Liverpool University)

Minutes of last AGM
Annual report
Statement of Accounts 2018
Motion to take up option to not appoint an auditor
Election of the Board
Close