Event Details:
Please check the original event link for any updated information or last minute changes, we don’t accept responsibility for out of date information.
- This event has passed.
This conference is inspired by lots of things that have been attracting attention in recent times: the rise of ‘new municipalism’ epitomised by what’s happening in cities as diverse as Preston and Barcelona; grassroots activism centred around ideas of the solidarity economy and community wealth building; the ongoing buzz around the potential of platform co-operatives; the Labour and Co-op Parties’ shared ambition to double the size of the co-operative economy.
These, along with other initiatives, feel like they may be beginning to coalesce, perhaps creating a window of opportunity, a real chance to build something new, something substantial, that could shift the needle towards a new economy that puts people and planet before private profit. Are we seeing the early signs of a new large scale resurgence of co-operative solutions, championed by local authorities across the country, with the active engagement of both grassroots activists and Labour politicians?
What is beyond doubt is that the ongoing divisions in our society – fuelled by Brexit – and the growing awareness of the climate emergency increasingly highlight the fact that business-as-usual is no longer a viable option.
The itinerary:
9.00 am: Registration and refreshments
9.45 am: Workshop Session 1 – a choice of four opening workshops:
- Community-led Housing
- Sociocracy
- New Municipalism
- Building Cooperative Success by understanding our failures
10.40 am: Morning plenary. Keynote speakers:
- Molly Scott-Cato – Green Party MEP
- Shaun Fensom – The Digital Infrastructure Co-operative
- Claire McCarthy – General Secretary, Co-operative Party
12.10 pm: Refreshment break
12.25 pm: Workshop Session 2
- Co-operatives, race and class
- Secondary co-operatives
- The Greater Manchester Co-operative Commission
- Co-operatives Unleashed
1.20 pm: Lunch
2.20 pm: Workshop Session 3
- Co-operatives as tools of liberation
- Financing the new economy
- Open Space session
- A New Lucas Plan
3.15 pm: Refreshment break
3.30 pm: Afternoon Plenary : Panel session and Closing Keynote
- A panel session pulling together the threads from the day and setting out a roadmap for the way forward.