OSG kicks off UK’s first Co-op Month

A GROUP of 40 Oxfordshire children will launch the UK&#039s first ?Co-op Month&#039 this Saturday.
The month-long programme of events to promote co-operative business and working will start at the Asian Cultural Community Centre in Oxford when Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op members and local parents will be joined by 40 children from Oxford District Woodcraft Folk.
Highlights of the day are expected to include a picnic lunch, children&#039s parachute games and the appearance of a large inflatable globe of the world.
Kathrin Luddecke, Co-operative Policy Officer for OSG, said: "Co-op Month has been held across North America since 1964. We are proud to be the first retail co-operative to celebrate this special month with events in the UK."
Free events lined up for October open to the public include:
? A Co-op fun ?n&#039 fair day where OSG Co-op will run a stall at the Stroud Farmers&#039 Market on Saturday 18th October. There will be information and product tastings of Fairtrade chocolate and fruit juices produced by co-operatives.
? The Parker Memorial Lecture by Hazel Blears MP, Minister of State for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety entitled Civil Renewal ? Putting Communities in Control. This event is organised by OSG Co-operative Party at Oxford Town Hall on Monday 20th October (7.30).
?An open day from 10am to 12 noon at the Clivey Credit Union in Swindon on Saturday 18th October.
There are also a number of other events taking place some of which are only open to members of OSG Co-op and other co-operatives and community enterprises, politicians and business support agencies.
Events in Devizes in Wiltshire, Oxford and Gloucestershire will celebrate the diversity of co-operative enterprise in the region. Other events include a fun, co-operative football match and the AGM of Co-operative Futures in Swindon.
As part of the month&#039s events and activities OSG Co-op is also funding bursaries to send individuals from small, local co-operatives to the major co-operative conference in Cardiff at the end of the month.
Visit: www.osg.coop/co-opmonth or call 01865 256238 during office hours for further details.