The Co-operative Movement as a practical force for progress

Listen to the second Co-operative Debate at Co-operatives 2010, proposed by The Co-operative Group Wales/Cymru Region, and read the original debate proposal.

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The subject was also spoken to by Maurice Austin, David Rees, David Ashford, Christopher McCannhan and Jane Powell.

The Co-operative Movement as a practical force for progress

Proposed by: The Co-operative Group, Wales/Cymru Region

If the UN’s 2012 International Year of Co-operation is to deliver recognition for the Co-operative Movement as a practical force for social and economic progress, efforts need to be made now to build knowledge and awareness of our values, principles, activities and potential in the UK and globally.

We call on member organisations to take immediate steps to put in place a framework for analysis, planning, action and review for work in the run-up to 2012, which centres upon education and awareness-raising amongst our own members and also on building links with like-minded organisations in the communities in which we trade. This framework should focus on common guidelines, standards and an agreed method for delivering outcomes through which co-operatives across the UK can take co-ordinated action.

By focusing our energies on a limited number of themes we will make the best possible use of our scarce resources, which should be based upon sound research. One key theme, for example, should be to better understand how consumer co-operatives can work with like minded organisations in the areas in which we trade, which could helpfully draw upon best practice in community development.

We might also, for example, choose to highlight the role of co-operatives internationally in alleviating poverty through Fair Trade, and work with the international co-operative movement to ensure a co-ordinated effort and raise the profile of the role of co-operatives across the globe.

In looking forward to 2012, we would value a report to be presented for debate at our next annual conference on progress achieved.

The Co-operative Debate took place as part of Co-operatives 2010, and was won by the proposal "Encouraging co-operatives as a lifeline for local people and local economies across the UK".