The Co-operative And It's Communities - A New Revolution

Many, if not all of us, wherever in the world we might be in have come across a co-operative.


   


In the UK, there is 'The Co-operative', the first successful community enterprise, founded in 1844 by the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, a group consisting of 28 weavers and other artisans. They set up their own store selling food items they could otherwise not be able to afford. By 1854, there were 1000 co-operative societies in the United Kingdom. The success of this first co-operative lies in the 'Rochdale Principles', a set of ideals still adopted by modern day co-operative societies around the world.


Today the Co-operative Group in the UK has six million members and 5,000 outlets across it's family of businesses which include food, financial services, travel, pharmacy and funerals. A new advert campaign was recently launched to help highlight The Co-operative's ethical credentials. It features real life people and groups that The Co-operative has empowered to bring their own revolutions to life. 


The advert


In keeping with the Fairtrade Fortnight, I've got to mention the tea growers in Kenya, as this is close to me, you see, being Kenyan and all (I know... *rolls eyes*). See that lady on the advert lovingly caressing tea leaves on the bush with a beaming smile on her face? Well, here's a good picture of her: 





Now, Kenya is one of the world's poorest countries, but thankfully, and through their Enterprise Hub, The Co-operative actively promotes the development of co-operative businesses, like the tea growers one featured above. The Co-operative invests £7 million a year in countries such as Kenya to support initiatives that will benefit farmers, their families and the entire community. In Kenya, they work with The Co-operative College and The Co-operative Food to help over 10,000 small holder tea farmers to organise into co-operatives. 


This has increased the farmers negotiating power, providing access to markets previously closed to them, and not only that, it has also helped them achieve Fairtrade certification so they can supply the Co-operative's '99' fairtrade tea blend, meaning they are now able to and are getting a fair return for their crop. It's good to know that these farmers as a co-operative, are able to escape the claws of poverty and provide for their families and improve their communities.


I must also mention the bee keepers in the clip, seeing as I've wanted a bee hive on my allotment for a while but have not taken the leap yet.





Urban Bees was set up by bee lovers, Brian McCallum and Alison Benjamin. They wanted to protect dwindling honeybee populations in urban areas by education city dwellers in beekeeping.


The Co-operative, having invested £500, 000 into Plan Bee, a bee protection and education programme, it was only natural when The Co-operative teamed up with Urban Bees to run training courses for beginners, give talks and work in partnership with other organisations and companies. 


Brian and Alison have now established 20 new hives on rooftops and in community gardens and allotments across London, and they will have given training and start-up equipment to approximately 300 people by the end of 2011. And it's good to know that when I'm ready for bees on my allotment, there's Urban Bees to turn to for help, support and advice.


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