Events across Co-operatives United

Co-operatives come in all forms and cover all sectors, at Co-operatives United co-operators can find out about all types of co-operation from Fairtrade to Finance.

Here is an overview of what to go to and when:

Fairtrade

The biggest Fairtrade event will be the Co-operating for a Fairer World Conference on Friday at 10.45–15.30, Exchange 8, 9, 10.

Split into two sessions:

• What next for Fairtrade and the role of co-operatives?
• Financing co-operatives for sustainable development.

Each session will include speeches, questions and debates.

Key speakers will be:  Chris Shearlock, Sustainable Development Manager for The Co-operative Group, Paul Hazen, Executive Director, US Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC) and Phil Bloomer, Director, Campaigns and Policy, Oxfam.

Workshops

Thursday

Nicaraguan Sesame and Coffee Co-operatives: pricing Fairtrade products to include unpaid labour and empower women at Central 5 (11:30 – 12:30)

Friday

Cooperativa Manduvirá: an inspirational Fairtrade organic co-operative from Paraquay Oikocredit International at Central 8 (12.30 – 13.30)

Growing Co-operatives: How Fairtrade producers worldwide get access to finance by Rabobank Rural Fund at Central 7 (15.30 – 16.30)

Finance

Co-operative Congress 2012: Growing the Co-operative Economy will take place at 9:30 – 16:00 on Thursday in the Exchange Auditorium.

As the UK co-operative sector’s premier event, it will bring together those with a passion for co-operative action and explore the future for co-operatives.

It will be facilitated by Stephanie Govern of the BBC and the speakers will include: Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, Kristen Christian, the founder of Bank Transfer Day and Carlo Borzaga, President of EURISCE.

Workshops

Wednesday

A new economic development: Learning from Evergreen Co-operatives at Pod 1 (9.30 – 10.30) and (12.30 – 13:30)

Managing a Business: the Co-operative Advantage Keele University Management School at Central 5 (12:30 – 13:30)

Move Your Money to a Better Bank at Central 8 (12:30 – 13:30)

Thursday

Employee Buy Out or In: Co-operative & Community Finance at Central 5 (9.30 – 10:30)

What does an international not-for-profit financial co-operative look like?
 Oikocredit International at Central 8 (9:30 -10:30)

Finance in an age of austerity: the power of customer-owned banks Professor Johnston Birchall at Pod 1 (12:30 – 13:30)

Ethical investing and co-operation: Shared Interest at Pod 1 (14:30 – 15:30)

Raising funds to finance your community enterprise Plunkett Foundation at Central 8 (15:30 – 16:30)

Digital and Media

Films

On Thursday co-operators will get the chance to watch two films on co-operation. 1.4 Billion Reasons with Bonnie Wright at 17:45 – 19:00 in the Exchange Auditorium. Doors open at 17:15 and close at 17:40.

This will be followed by the premiere of the inspirational new film of the Rochdale Pioneers from 20:00 – 22:30. Doors open at 19.55 and close at 20.10.

Limited tickets are available for full delegates, to attend these sessions please visit the Tours and Tickets Stand in Co-operation Street for more details.

Workshops

Wednesday

Open source and Co-operatives: the perfect fit
: Agile Collective at Central 7 (9:30 -10:30)

The Digital Co-operative: A new generation of participation and accessibility
 by One Click Orgs at Pod 1 (10:30 – 11:30)

Going viral: creating effective campaigns and business ideas at Central 5 (10:30 – 11:30)

Thursday

Set the scene: get involved with making a film at Pod 2 (10:30 – 12:30) and Friday at the same time.

Getting the best out of the Co-operate smartphone app: Reason Digital at Central 5 (12:30 – 13:30)

Tell your co-operative story online: Co-operative News at Central 5 (14:30 – 15:30)

Making the media co-operative: Principle Six at Central 8 (16:30 – 17:30)

Social Media and Co-operative Governance
: Principle Six at Central 5 (19:30 – 20:30)

Friday

People power: using technology to engage and organise your members: Reason Digital (16:30 – 17:30)

Youth and Co-operatives

Workshops

Wednesday

Get creative: Interactive Sessions with Green Schools Revolution! at Pod 2 (9:30 – 12:30)

Student Co-operatives: ideas, experiences, and opportunities at Pod 1 (11:30 -12:30)

Working with Young People and Setting Up a Youth Council Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society at Central 7 (15:30 – 16:30)

Where will the next generation of co-operators come from? Woodcraft Folk at Pod 2 (14:30 – 16:30)

Thursday

Towards a Co-operative University at Pod 1 (11:30 – 12:30)

Leading for the future: The Co-operative Group and Woodcraft Folk at Pod 2 (14:30 – 15:30)

Living and breathing co-operative values through quality childcare provision: 
The Co-operative Childcare at Pod 2 (16:30 – 17:30)

Friday

Performance by St Michael’s Primary School Choir at Pod 2 (12:30 – 13:30)

Empowering young people to take action for social change: Woodcraft Folk at Pod 2 (14:30 – 15:30)

What are Co-operative Schools? The Co-operative College at Pod 1 (16:30 – 17:30)

Energy and the Environment

Two of the main events on Friday include talks from Energy co-operatives, this includes:

Climate Change, Community Energy and Co-operation Klaus Niederländer, Director Co-operatives Europe; during the Values and Principles Conference at 14.10 –14.50 in the Exchange Auditorium.

Balanced Scorecard by Alex Hassan from Baywind Energy during the Accountants Forum at 15:05 – 15:50 in Exchange 1.

Workshops

Wednesday

Co-operating with renewable energy
 R-Eco in Central 8 (10:30 – 11:30)

The Energy Saving Co-operative: how large and small co-operatives are working together in Central 5 (14:30 – 15:30)

Friday

Power to the people: how co-operatives are shaping a new energy market: 
Cooperatives Europe at Central 8 (9:30 – 10:30)

Power to the people: start your own renewable energy co-operative
In association with REScoop.eu at Central 8 (10:30 – 11:30)

Power to the people: campaign for a dramatic increase in co-operative and community energy at Central 8 (11:30 – 12:30)

Energy Saving: Fighting Climate Change – The Co-operative Way The Energy Saving Co-operative at Central 8 (14:30 – 15:30)