Over 800 set for Congress 2004

OVER 800 delegates and visitors are set to attend Congress 2004 at Manchester United&#039s Old Trafford stadium this weekend. "This year&#039s Congress will celebrate the diversity of co-operative...

OVER 800 delegates and visitors are set to attend Congress 2004 at Manchester United&#039s Old Trafford stadium this weekend.

"This year&#039s Congress will celebrate the diversity of co-operative enterprise," said Dame Pauline Green, Chief Executive of organisers Co-operatives UK.

"The revitalisation of co-operation in recent years has seen exciting new co-operatives springing up in many different sectors of the economy, from broadband internet provision to renewable energy. "

Added Dame Pauline: "Co-operatives marry democratic accountability with practical solutions to local needs, and a renewed commitment to the sector from the highest levels of Government is once again putting co-operation at the heart of our communities.

"The prospects for co-operation are better than they have been for a generation and our annual Congress is an important step in taking forward our agenda."

Highlights of this year&#039s Congress include the Presidential address by Keith Darwin, current chair of the Co-operative Group and former Chief Executive of Lincoln Co-op.

Ben Reid, chair of Co-operativesUK will present the Co-operative Movement&#039s Financial Performance Report, outlining the trading position of co-operative societies over the last 12 months, and Terry Wynn, MEP for the North West Region of England and chair of the EU Budgets Committee which oversees the &#163 70 billion EU budget, will address delegates.

A series of top level workshops which illustrate the breadth and diversity of the Co-operative Movement will include sessions on childcare, co-operative capital, corporate governance, and specialist schools.

A workshop looking at ways of increasing the involvement of young people in the Co-operative Movement in this country will be attended by young co-operators from across Europe.

An exhibition of co-operative enterprises will take place and there will be a series of fringe meetings focusing on issues as wide-ranging as recycling and remanufacture; community broadband internet provision; mutual home ownership and GP out-of-hours co-operatives.

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