Cooperatives Yorkshire and Humber

Co-operatives Yorkshire and the Humber Conference and AGM

Co-operatives Yorkshire and the Humber Conference and AGM which will take place on the 31st January from 9.45pm to 3pm at Ebor Court, Skinner St, Leeds, LS1 4ND. The annual conference speakers include:

Derek Walker, Director of Wales Co-operative Centre
Laurie Gregory, Chair The Foster Care Co-operative
Paula Denison, Managing Director of the Social Enterprise Support Centre
Kevin Marquis, Co-ordinator Regional Co-operative Enterprise Hub
Paul Schofield, Regional Intelligence Manager Cabinet Office

amongst others and  the event includes lunch. Delegate tickets are free and stands available at £25 each

For full details and to book for this free event please go to our booking site

Doncaster Co-operatives Expo

Come and join co-operators, local Cllrs, Council Officers and community members from Doncaster at the Doncaster Co-operatives Exposition on the 4th February from  1-4pm at the Ballroom of the Mansion House, 45 High Street, Town Centre, Doncaster DN1 1DN.

Stalls currently include South Yorkshire Credit Union, Lorna Young Foundation, Sheffield CDG, Co-operative Group and The Co-operative Bank. If you would like a stand (which are available free of charge) please contact alex@cooperatives-yh.coop.

For more info and to register as a delegate go to our booking site

This event is being orgainsed by Co-operatives Yorkshire and the Humber and Doncaster Council and hosted by Co-operative Cllr Kevin Rodgers.

Simply Start-up Leeds

Co-operatives UK in partnership with the Plunkett Foundation are offering the following Making Local Food Work free workshops to any community food enterprise or anyone supporting them. The workshops would be particularly suitable for groups in the pre-start stage.

The workshop aims are:
1. To offer an easy to understand and inspiring overview of the start-up process for those unfamiliar with starting a co-operative or community enterprise.
2. To signpost to other helpful resources such as guides and websites.
3. To signpost to people and organisations who can help.
4. To inspire the creation of new co-operative and community enterprises by showing a wide variety of what is possible.

THe event is on the 3rd April 2013  ful details here and to book go to http://leeds-mlfw.eventbrite.co.uk/

Co-op Business Needs Survey

Co-operatives UK are reviewing what support co-ops need and want in their area. This includes a survey of as many co-ops as possible, including those in all parts of the UK and of all types: it doesn’t matter if you are big, small, old, new, have had support, don’t want support or are looking for support. The survey is open just for January and takes 10mins (you might find completing it informative): https://coopbusinessneedssurvey.questionpro.com

Fairtrade Yorkshire

On the 18th January Yorkshire became the UK's first Fairtrade Region. Read about it here.

Leeds Bread Coop Loanstock

The Leeds Bread Coop aims  to produce good quality bread in a socially and environmentally responsible way. We will use organic wheat, rye and spelt flour, some of which will be locally sourced from Yorkshire organic millers. Alongside this we will use sourdough fermentation, some commercial baker’s yeast, and co-operative whole food suppliers such as Suma and Lembas for additional ingredients such as salt, seeds, nuts and olives.

Leeds Bread Coop are offering the public the chance to invest directly through Bread Bonds (loanstock).

They are offering interest rates between 0% and 4% per annum (or the equivalent in bread!)

You can choose whether you want your loan to be paid back in 3 or 5 years from the start date.

For more details go to their loanstock page

West Yorkshire Co-ops Networking Event

Want to meet co-ops from West Yorkshire and discuss how we can support one another? Want get support for your prospective new co-op from other local co-ops?

West Yorkshire Co-ops Networking Event:

Radical Routes Gathering, 9th February Woodhouse Community Centre

197 Woodhouse Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS6 2NY

The February Radical Routes gathering is being held in Leeds.

Radical Routes is a network of housing and worker co-ops working for radical social change.

We would like to invite all co-ops in West Yorkshire to join us for a West Yorkshire Co-ops networking session at 6pm. The session will be held before dinner and there will be food and socailising to follow.

We are particularly promoting coming along to the networking session and sharing food and socailising together. However, the whole weekend long gathering is open to any co-ops that want to find out more about Radical Routes and the benefits of being involved in a network promoting co-operation and radical social change.

If you'd like to come please contact Claire on 07962 479512 or on reclairethestreets[@ NO SPAM]riseup.net  or visit www.radicalroutes.org.uk/the-next-gathering.html for more information and come along on the day.  Food will be for a small contribution and the venue is fully wheelchair accessible.

Your Article Here

If you want an item featured in the newsletter which is received by over 200 Co-operatives and other like minded organisations please email any copy to alex@cooperatives-yh.coop

Co-operatives Yorkshire and the Humber Enhanced Benefits Package

Join our enhanced scheme for a number of new benefits including a free place at Futures North 2011. The package is being delivered jointly with Social Enterprise Yorkshire and the Humber and includes benefits such as membership of a business club for social enterprises and co-operatives and inclusion on a marketplace e-directory.

The package starts at just £25 for small co-operatives and full details can be downloaded here.

The Phone Co-op Affinity Scheme

CYH have an affinity scheme with The Phone Co-op. Any individual or organisation can join so If you're considering joining the The Phone Co-op there are several benefits you can receive by quoting our affinity number AF0461- details are available here.

If you are not a member but wish to be membership of Co-operatives Yorkshire and the Humber is free and open to all organisations who support co-operative values and principles. A membership form can be obtained by downloading a form from here