Co-op News September 2021
The September edition of Co-op News: connecting, challenging and championing the global co-operative movement. This issue we look at Principle 6 - co-operation among co-ops: including a look at how co-ops are coming together to find solutions to the environmental challenges facing the world - whether that means stepping up the war on plastic waste in the UK or helping the clean energy transition in Croatia. We look at efforts to provide co-op housing and community pubs, and speak to Lord Victor Adebowale – Co-op Group director and chair of Social Enterprise UK - about co-operation with other socially led sectors. And there's a look at the co-op environment that helped nurture US Olympian Dalilah Muhammad.
The September edition of Co-op News: connecting, challenging and championing the global co-operative movement. This issue we look at Principle 6 - co-operation among co-ops: including a look at how co-ops are coming together to find solutions to the environmental challenges facing the world - whether that means stepping up the war on plastic waste in the UK or helping the clean energy transition in Croatia. We look at efforts to provide co-op housing and community pubs, and speak to Lord Victor Adebowale – Co-op Group director and chair of Social Enterprise UK - about co-operation with other socially led sectors. And there's a look at the co-op environment that helped nurture US Olympian Dalilah Muhammad.
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SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong> | 13<br />
HEALTH<br />
Signalise co-<strong>op</strong>erative<br />
wins BSL NHS contract<br />
Signalise <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>, the multi-stakeholder<br />
platform co-<strong>op</strong> established in 2019 to<br />
revolutionise the booking of British Sign<br />
Language (BSL) Interpreters, has won the<br />
CCG <strong>Co</strong>ntract to deliver a BSL NHS Health<br />
interpreting service in Liverpool.<br />
The co-<strong>op</strong> created an online booking<br />
system designed entirely by its users,<br />
giving deaf pe<strong>op</strong>le choice and control over<br />
the interpreters they use.<br />
Signalise is co-owned and co-run by<br />
both members of the local deaf community<br />
and BSL/English interpreters, and any<br />
profit made is reinvested into the co-<strong>op</strong><br />
and its community. Because everything<br />
is run online, costs are kept down and<br />
interpreters are paid fairly.<br />
“At long last we have a co-<strong>op</strong>erative<br />
that really does listen and involve deaf<br />
members,” says co-<strong>op</strong> member Geraldine<br />
O’Halloran. “Our motto is ‘nothing about<br />
us without us’ and this means Signalise<br />
puts deaf clients at the very centre of the<br />
service. This has never happened before<br />
– deaf pe<strong>op</strong>le have a real <strong>op</strong>portunity to<br />
take back control and ensure we work<br />
with our interpreters, as partners, to get<br />
the service we need.”<br />
The framework agreement between<br />
Signalise and NHS Liverpool CCG is<br />
part of a wider programme to improve<br />
access to healthcare, and includes<br />
provision for other NHS partners from<br />
Merseyside and Cheshire to join the<br />
arrangements in the coming year. The<br />
new sign language services go live for<br />
GPs in Liverpool on 1 <strong>September</strong> <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
High profile supporters include John<br />
McDonnell MP and disability activist<br />
and author Ellen Clifford. And this<br />
summer the co-<strong>op</strong> raised £328,250 in a<br />
community share offer – £28,000 over its<br />
£300,000 target. Signalise was awarded<br />
funding by the Liverpool City Region<br />
Future Innovation Fund to devel<strong>op</strong> a VRS<br />
service (video interpreting), and they also<br />
received a £10,000 donation from the<br />
National Education Union (NEU).<br />
“We are delighted to be working with<br />
Liverpool CCG to deliver an accessible and<br />
user led provision,” added Ms O’Halloran.<br />
“Signalise <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> is a user-led co<strong>op</strong>erative<br />
of deaf community members and<br />
local interpreters – we are equal partners<br />
and this means we can help to devel<strong>op</strong><br />
and deliver an accessible communication<br />
service for local NHS medical access.<br />
“Remember deaf pe<strong>op</strong>le are the experts<br />
of their own needs, we know what we<br />
need to get the right support.”<br />
Space to<br />
work<br />
Space to<br />
grow<br />
Space for<br />
change<br />
Leading the movement in workspaces for those who lead the change,<br />
with spaces currently available to rent<br />
Visit www.ethicalpr<strong>op</strong>erty.co.uk Email sales@ethicalpr<strong>op</strong>erty.co.uk or call 01865 207 810 to find out more
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