Visitors of all ages dressed up as Victorians to have their photograph taken by Frank Harrison of the Rochdale and District Camera Club. Frank gave the images an historic twist by applying a sepia effect. He also brought along old camera for visitors to handle. An archivist from the National Co-operative Archive in Manchester was on hand to show families how to date historic photographs and find out how to look after them. Children also had the opportunity to follow a camera trail around the museum, and make their very own picture frames and ‘Carte De Visite’.

The Rochdale and District Camera Club will be working with the Rochdale Pioneers Museum again this summer as they host their 2013 Annual Print and Digital Image Exhibition at the museum from 30 June to 21 July. For further information visit www.rochdalepioneersmuseum.coop/events or call 01706 524920.

• Students from Corelli College talking about developing students as leaders.
• Students from The Royal Docks Community School reflecting on student participation in the school.
• Alison Youd from Watergate School outlining a vision for participation within a school for those with learning difficulties.
• Professor Philip Woods, University of Hertfordshire, acting as a respondent.

In recent years, democracy, student voice and widening forms of participation have all become key contested educational issues. The rapid growth of co-operative schools has added a further dimension to these debates. Pupils, as leaders and members, are at the heart of co-operative schools. In this seminar three different schools will outline their vision and approaches to participation including pupils from Royal Docks Community School, pupils from Corelli College and Alison Youd from Watergate School, part of the Brent Knoll and Watergate Co-operative Trust. Professor Philip Woods will act as a respondent.

All welcome!

Please see flier below for further information. To register for this free seminar or for further details, contact Tom Woodin at t.woodin@ioe.ac.uk.

Participation and student leadership in co-operative schools flier

CooperACTION, a project aiming to support and train new youth co-operatives in eleven local communities across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, held its first core group meeting in Colombia’s capital Bogota in March. Participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences with peace process experts, members of think-tanks and representatives from the Colombian co-operative movement about co-operatives and how the co-operative model has been used in solving conflicts.

Following the input of Sri Eni (a coffee farmer and part of a coffee-growers co-operative in Aceh, Indonesia) and CooperACTION trainer Julie Thorpe (from the Co-operative College and Woodcraft Folk in the UK), a working document was developed and delivered to the negotiation team, which was adopted in the first agreement on the peace process.

After several months of negotiations in Havana with intermediaries from Norway and Cuba, the first point of the agenda, rural development, has been agreed. Central to the solution is issue of land reform, which lies at the root of the problem, as in many national conflicts. There has been unrest in Colombia because land is unfairly distributed among the people, causing smallholders to be forced off their farms and into the cities, leading to a greater concentration of land ownership in fewer hands. A think-tank has been set up by Colombia’s Liberal Party which is part of the coalition government, to explore a range of approaches to rural development and gather ideas and experiences of the way co-operative solutions can help.

The basis of the new agreement are:

­­­1. Access and allocation of land (rural reform).

2. A co-operative model to guarantee production and better distribution of wealth for farmers.

3. Access to education, health and poverty eradication in rural areas.

4. Formalisation of property and agricultural reserve.

CooperACTION is run by the International Falcon Movement-Socialist Educational International (IFM-SEI), which works to empower young people to take an active role in society. The CooperACTION project, which brings together organisations in the UK, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Austria, Senegal, Cameroon, Indonesia, India, Chile and Colombia, hopes to educate young people about co-operatives as an alternative form of enterprise, raise awareness of Fairtrade and its benefit to communities, share experiences, challenges and successes between young co-operators around the world, encourage and support partnerships between young people and local producers and offer an alternative future to young unemployed people and those at risk of unemployment. New co-operative enterprises are being supported by participants in the CooperACTION project, resulting in a new global network of young co-operators. Representatives were in Bogota to receive training on co-operatives, Fairtrade and international development, to use to educate their peers at home to set up co-operatives in their communities.

Ana Maria Almario Dreszer, International Secretary of Fundacion Acacia-Colombia and Vice President of IFM-SEI, said: “IFM-SEI has sowed a seed in Colombian peace, but we still have a long path to walk. There are five other important topics to negotiate and in this peace process nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Of course we need to keep working on the implementation of these policies and agreements, and we still have a lot to say about it!

“The educational material developed as a result of CooperACTION project will certainly be really appreciated and we still have a lot to share. Peace is a colourful dream that we will all build together!”

Julie Thorpe, Head of School and Youth Programmes, said: “The youth project we are involved with in Colombia has really sparked an interest in co-operatives. It is fantastic to hear about the progress which is being made in the peace process. Land issues lie at the heart of injustice which has led to so many years of fighting there and co-operative solutions could hold the key to achieving an equitable settlement. I feel very proud to have been able to contribute in a very small way by sharing examples from the global co-operative movement.”

To take part please visit www.co-op.ac.uk/survey.

The College’s Co-operative Learning and Development services in particular continued to grow. In 2012, there was an 18 per cent increase in workshop attendances, and 29 per cent rise in Funeral Vocational Qualification registrations, whilst distance learning enrolments rose by 90 per cent.

The Rochdale Pioneers Museum reopened towards the end of 2012, in time to welcome thousands of visitors from all over the world to the Co-operatives United expo, and the National Co-operative Archive benefited from 116 days of volunteer time over the course of the year.

In 2012, the College worked on a growing number of programmes in Eastern and Southern Africa, and its research portfolio and academic partnerships also grew rapidly. Ten scholarships were awarded throughout the year, including nine grants which supported learners to attend the international Mainstreaming Co-operation conference held by the College. Another award enabled a student to undertake overseas fieldwork in Kenya as part of a doctorate on co-operative and poverty alleviation co-supervised by the College.

In addition, the College is continuing to support the development of the co-operative schools sector, which now represents the third largest group of schools in England.

Last year also saw the introduction of an equitable pay scheme at the College, with a combination of flat rate payment and a lower percentage award ensuring that lower-paid staff benefit most. By the end of 2014, the College is aiming to achieve a lowest:highest salary ratio of 1:5, and has already moved from 1:6 in 2011 to 1:5.75 in 2012. The College pays all employees a living wage and, in line with the co-operative values and principles, its apprentices receive an average of £5.08 an hour, paying above the apprenticeship rate of £2.65 an hour. All this contributes to a high average staff satisfaction rate of 88 per cent.

Paul Sommerfeld, Chair of Governors, said: “2012 was a unique year for the Co-operative College and the whole of the co-operative movement. The International Year of Co-operatives gave us an opportunity to profile co-operation and its contemporary relevance, and the College’s improved financial position strengthens the position of the College going forward and puts the College in a strong position to build on the contacts and developments made through the International Year of Co-operatives.”

He also thanked staff and associates for ongoing commitment and work in “helping the College fulfil its vision to be a world leader in education for co-operation”.

The Museum, which is based in the original building where the Rochdale Pioneers set up the first successful co-operative grocery store in 1844, reopened to the public in October 2012 as part of the International Year of Co-operatives celebrations, following a major refurbishment. The Museum is now fully accessible and features interactive displays, an education space and a dedicated new team. The Museum tells the story of co-operation, both in Britain and abroad, and shows how the modern-day co-operative movement of over 1 billion people developed from the actions of 28 ordinary men of Rochdale more than 150 years ago.

Currently, the Museum is attracting around 150 walk-in visitors per week – and on top of that hosts a steady stream of group visits and tours. Regular events and interactive workshops are proving popular with visitors of all ages, from Busy Bee fun days, which offer a fun way to explore the links between bees and co-operation, to co-operative film screenings and evening lectures on all aspects of co-operation and the movement’s history. A recent fun day based on the historic Defiant Radios co-operative brand, where visitors could take part in a radio trail around the museum, make a radio from a cereal box or design a radio poster, attracted 92 visitors alone.

Toad Lane is widely regarded as the birthplace of co-operation and continues to be a place of pilgrimage for co-operators from all over the world, with the Museum attracting visitors from an impressive 34 different countries in the first week of reopening. “Excellent!” was the verdict of Lucy Murumba from the Kenya Co-operative Coffee Exporter, who said: “It is a privilege to be here.” Seah Kian Peng from Singapore deemed the building to be “rich in history and heritage and inspirational”, whilst Carmen Castillo from Trujillo in Venezuela spoke of its potential to influence the next generation of co-operators. She said: “It is an important way to keep the past alive for young people in the world.”

As well as being at the centre of the global co-operative movement, the Pioneers Museum is firmly at the heart of the Rochdale community. Rochdale locals Martin and Gail Newnham describe it as “a museum to be proud of”, praising the “excellent displays and facilities for school use”. They said: “It is good to know that positive messages about co-operation will be passed down for generations to come.”

One young visitor, Izzy Merlo, loved the Museum so much she visited twice with her school, calling it “brilliant”, and another child, Mia Butterworth-Brooks, said she “loved doing all the interactive things”, including dressing up and doing the bee hunt. Mrs Best from the town’s Newhey County Primary School, meanwhile, described her year 4 class’s visit as “a fantastic school session”. She said: “The children learnt a lot about their Rochdale history and about working co-operatively! The Museum has amazing staff: helpful, enthusiastic and positive.”

Diverse local groups which make use of the Museum as a resource and meeting place range from St Mary’s Parish Study Group to Rochdale Elective Home Education Group and the Rochdale Social Enterprise and Co-operative Forum, and the Museum also works with local education providers such as Hopwood College. As Community Outreach Officer Angela Whitecross explains, local people are encouraged to share their ideas and “feel that they have a voice in the museum”.

Such is the Museum’s popularity that, along with the town’s Touchstones Art and Heritage Centre, it was chosen to host renowned artist Susan Forsyth as part of the annual Museums at Night Connect 10 event in May. Forsyth’s proposal to take a candle-lit ‘Zusammen’ choir procession through the streets of Rochdale won over 40 per cent of the vote in a public competition, beating established cultural venues such as Yorkshire Sculpture Park and showing that the people of Rochdale are truly behind the Museum. Over 200 people turned out for the parade through Rochdale town centre, and there are calls for the procession to become an annual event.

“The first six months has been a really exciting time for the Museum,” says Museum Manager Jennifer Broadbent said. “The museum is proving to be incredibly popular with schools and community groups, and the lecture series is steadily growing in popularity. We are also particularly pleased with the number of drop-in visitors. Everyone is coming to us and this shows the need and the demand for the Museum in Rochdale and its potential for the future.”

Above all, the Museum is a living, growing resource for the co-operative movement. Women’s guilds, co-operative societies and other co-operative groups are regular visitors, as well as local history societies, and the Museum is also used by The Co-operative Group as a venue for training and other events. Sharon Padfield from the Co-operative Group Membership Department for Wales, who visited from Caerphilly, said she really enjoyed her visit, describing the museum as “really impressive”.

Get involved in the Rochdale Pioneers Museum

Volunteer

Staff are now building up a volunteer base to take the Museum forward. They work closely with volunteers to enable them to gain hands-on experience in museum methods and practices tailored, wherever possible, to their particular area of interest. The Museum welcomes enquiries from members of the public who want to get involved.

Visit

Admission to the Rochdale Pioneers Museum is free. Individuals and small groups do not need to book, just drop in during the museum opening hours. Group bookings and school trips are welcome. For more information and to plan your visit to the Museum visit www.rochdalepioneersmuseum.coop, email museum@co-op.ac.uk or call 01706 524920.

The procession was organised by the Rochdale Pioneers Museum and Touchstones Rochdale as part of the national Museums at Night Festival. The drop-in choir consisted of members of the public and community groups who came together to sing for one night only. The choir was accompanied by Littleborough Brass Band and Rochdale Youth Brass Band as well as singers and musicians from Rochdale Sixth Form College. All were given a commemorative #SingRochdale gold medal with a green and white ribbon.

The procession was led by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) Junior Wardens who carried the #SingRochdale banner. It began at St Chad’s Church at 6pm with the drop-in choir singing ‘If I Knew You Were Coming I’d Have Baked a Cake’ by Rochdale’s own Gracie Fields, followed by Geoff Alexander’s ‘I’m Going Back to Rochdale’.

The procession went on to sing at various local landmarks including the Broadfield Park Bandstand and the Rochdale War Memorial. Songs included children’s favourite ‘Reach’ by S Club 7, William Blake’s ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Eight Days A Week’ by the Beatles. The procession ended at around 7.45pm at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, with the choir singing another Gracie favourite, ‘Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye’, and the Rochdale Youth Brass Band playing ‘The Final Countdown’. The parishioners of the St Mary in the Baum Church, neighbour of the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, provided participants with tea and coffee after the procession.

Artist Susan Forsyth, who has previously organised Zusammen Choir Processions in Lisbon, London and Warsaw, described the #SingRochdale event as “the best Zusammen Choir ever!” and said “huge credit to everyone in Rochdale for embracing the Zusammen spirit”. One participant said they enjoyed the ‘friendliness, camaraderie and general ‘feel-good atmosphere’ with another saying they liked “the fun, the brass band and no rain”. Rochdale Pioneers Museum Manager Jenny Broadbent said: “Since the event several individuals have contacted us to to say they enjoyed it so much they’d like to see #SingRochdale become an annual event!”

Baroness Angela Smith, a Labour front-bench Peer in the House of Lords who was previously Co-operative Labour MP for Basildon and Thurrock East, has agreed to take up the position of Honorary President of the St Clere’s Co-operative Academy Trust.

St Clere’s Co-operative Academy Trust was established in 2011. It currently has one secondary school, St Clere’s, and three primary phase schools, East Tilbury Infant, East Tilbury Junior and Thameside Primary School. Stanford-le-Hope Primary School will also join the family of schools on 1 June.

The Trust’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Griffiths, former Headteacher of St Clere’s School, said: “We are delighted that Angela has agreed to be our Honorary President. We look forward to continuing our close working relationship.”

The studentship will focus on the rapidly developing co-operative schools movement. Currently there are just over 400 co-operative schools in the UK with more on the way. The key question for the research is ‘what makes a school ‘co-operative’? This will include exploring such questions as: What difference does co-operative educational philosophy and practice make to learning and achievement? What are the qualities and attributes needed to lead as a Head and at all levels in a co-operative school? What professional development is required to support self improving schools? Distributed leadership, leadership development and the development of a more participatory culture at all levels and contexts within a school and its community will be explored. What broader impact is there on young people and their communities?

The studentship will work alongside a knowledge exchange project focusing on the development of a learning platform that will enable schools, communities and researchers to share their experience, ideas and practices. This may provide research access and contribute to the development of an evidence base for the research. The student will be expected to undertake case studies and surveys.

Applications are invited from candidates with a recent first or upper second in a relevant undergraduate degree and preferably candidates who have a master’s degree that has included research training. Relevant subject areas include education, sociology, politics and social anthropology.

For more information and how to apply please see advert and information below or visit www.mmu.ac.uk/studentships.

Closing date for applications: Friday 21 June

What makes a school co-operative? advertisementWhat makes a school co-operative? information

The conference has been sponsored by The Co-operative Group Central & Eastern Region and is free for up to two delegates* from schools or Trusts. It is also supported by The Midcounties Co-operative Society, The Midlands Co-operative Society and the Heart of England Co-operative Society and has been jointly planned with the Co-operative College.

There will be a variety of workshops, discussions and support events of wide interest to a variety of schools either interested in being a co-operative Trust school or Academy or who are already well-established. Themes will include:

• What is a co-operative school and how do I become one?
• What do I do in the first period in the new status?
• Dealing with today’s challenges (for example Ofsted).
• Ideas within the curriculum for co-operative schools.
• Working with a co-operative partner.
• Developing membership.
• Making clusters of schools work.
• Networking and working together.

There will be a high demand for places so early booking is essential.

To book visit www.co-operativeschools.coop (see events menu), or apply directly through the Co-operative Group’s online system at http://is.gd/uOACtg.

For more information about the conference see flier. For general enquiries about the event please email SCSbirminghamconference@co-operativeschools.coop. If you have questions about a booking you have made ring 01908 361500.

Schools Co-operative Society Birmingham conference