Co-op Connections: Oxford
Event
'Where there are co-ops, there's hope.' Join the Co‑operatives UK Membership Team for this event on Tuesday 23 May from 7-8.30pm.
About the event
This event aims to unite and connect co-ops based in Oxford and the surrounding areas. Come along to meet nearby co-ops and make local connections to co-operatively help each others businesses.
Format
The event will take place in-person for 1.5 hours.
Opener: A short talk from a local and dynamic democratically-run society.
Middle:
- Where there are co-ops, there's hope: an opportunity for everyone to share how their organisations are managing in one of the toughest economic climates for decades. Each share ends with: 'we found hope when...'
- A short show and tell: Open Collective – A Future Hope
Ends with: Socialising and getting to know each other.
How much does it cost?
This event is FREE for Oxford-based co-operatives and Co-operatives UK members.
What attendees will gain
You will have the opportunity to meet other co-ops based in Oxford as well as share hopes and business development experiences.
Who should attend?
Anyone working in a co-operative based in Oxford or the surrounding areas.
Meet our team on the day:
Alice Hemming, Co-operative Development Worker at Co-operative Futures
Alice provides business development support for co-operative and community businesses. She describes herself as a 'co-op geek' having worked in and with community-centred enterprises in Oxfordshire since 2015. She lives in a housing co-op.
Gareth Wright, Member Relations Officer, Co-operatives UK
Gareth has been finding solutions to common business needs for almost 20 years. He’s worked with clients from a range of sectors in the UK and across Europe. Since joining Co-operatives UK in 2012, he’s been working directly with our members to ensure they have access to practical advice and guidance. He also delivers training and hosts local networking events. Gareth is never too far from co-ops, as he’s an active member of his local credit union, a co-op pub and a brewery. In his spare time, you’ll find him walking in the hills or riding one of his bikes.
Irena Pistun, Member Relations Officer, Co-operatives UK
Irena comes from a media, PR and stadium events background. For all the big budgets and international profiles she managed, she missed the big values in business. Now a committed Christian and treasurer for her local church and community centre, Irena is passionate about diversifying the co-op sector and talking to members about using their values (and zero budgets) to raise their own profiles.
