APRIL 2018

DIARY
On the one hand, the lack of housing
options for people – caused by
problems built up over decades and
decades – has meant that people
are starting to do it for themselves
– forming community-led housing
groups of varying shapes and sizes.
And national and local government
is starting to respond to this
groundswell.
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On the other hand, the tenant
movement, thunderstruck following
the horrors of Grenfell, is starting to
call for a Voice for Tenants – quite
rightly saying that in 2018, how can it
possibly be right that no one speaks
for tenants?
Ultimately, it’s about people and
power – should people have power
to make things happen in their
neighbourhoods?
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: The Co-op
Group’s AGM takes place in Manchester in
May; The CCH conference in Warwickshire
will discuss how communities can run
things; The Worker Co-op Weekend is
hosted again by Co-operatives UK; and
Claire McCarthy, general of the secretary of
the Co-op Party, whose annual conference
has been announced for October.
www.cch.coop
1-2 May: Co-operative Education
Conference
Hosted by the Co-operative College, this
year’s conference focuses on two strands:
The Co-operative University and learning
for new co-operative times. Speakers
include Emer Coleman (Co-op Group),
Kevin Rowan (TUC) and Bruno Roelants
and Ariel Guarco (International
Co-operative Alliance).
WHERE: Federation House, Manchester
INFO: s.coop/coopedconf18
11-13 May: Worker Co-op Weekend
The Worker Co-op Weekend, hosted by
Co-operatives UK, has practical sessions
covering a range of topics. Designed
and run by worker co-ops for worker
co-ops, with food sourced from co-ops
like Essential and Suma, with bread from
Infinity, beer from Bartlebys Brewery and
veg from Unicorn Grocery. Vegan-friendly
catering, camping and campfires.
WHERE: Foundry Adventure Centre,
Great Hucklow, Derbyshire
INFO: uk.coop/wcw18
11-13 May: CCH Annual Conference
The 24th annual conference is an
opportunity for the co-operative housing
sector to come together to discuss how
people are going to change things.
Speakers include Jane Everton &
Begoña Vilaplana (Ministry of Housing,
Communities & Local Government),
Dr Chris Handy OBE (Accord Housing
Group) and Cllr Sharon Taylor (Co-op
Councils Innovation Network).
WHERE: Chesford Grange Hotel
Kenilworth, Warwickshire
INFO: cch.coop/cch-annualconference-2018
18 May: Co-operatives UK AGM
Open to all Co-operatives UK members.
Issues discussed by delegates and the
priorities identified will be taken to
Co operatives UK’s strategic review group.
WHERE: Holyoake House, Manchester
INFO: www.uk.coop/AGM
19 May: Co-op Group AGM
Details tbc
WHERE: Manchester
9 June: Co-operative Party Local
Government Conference
An opportunity for councillors, members,
aspiring candidates and others interested
in local government policy to share ideas,
hear inspiring case studies and learn
more about ways in which they can put
co-operative solutions into practice.
WHERE: Coin Street Community
Centre, London
INFO: s.coop/localgovconf18
23 June: Co-operative Congress
Annual conference for the co-op sector.
WHERE: etc Venues, Liverpool Street
London EC2M 3YD
INFO: www.uk.coop/wcw18
LOOKING AHEAD
23 June - 8 July: Community
Energy Fortnight
7 July: International Day of Co-operatives
15 -18 July: World Credit Union
Conference 2018 (Singapore)
26-27 July: OPEN 2018: Platform
Co-operatives (London)
31 August - 2 September: UK Society
for Co-operative Studies Annual
Conference (Sheffield)
12-14 October: Co-operative Party Annual
Conference (Bristol)
50 | APRIL 2018