News and Events
Young Co-operatives and Recon in schools in Swaziland
Students in schools in Swaziland have been inspired to reuse and recycle by Young Co-operatives and Recon resources. Umtsentse Youth Workers Co-op Society, a registered Young Co-operative, is using the Action Kit and Recon resources produced by the Co-operative College to engage primary and secondary school students in waste management.
Can you help refurbish a school in South Africa?
A school in Cape Town, South Africa, is appealing for donations to help spruce up and make-over its classrooms.
Students get ready for Ethical Enterprise Challenge
A group of students are getting ready to start work on a Fairtrade gift shop ahead of the Co-operative College’s Ethical Enterprise Challenge in 2011.
Fair Trade festive cheer at Fulston Manor School
Young Co-operators brought Christmas cheer to Fulston Manor School in Sittingbourne, Kent, on Tuesday 14 December.
The Ethical Trading Co-operative, Sir Thomas Boughey High School
S
tudents at Sir Thomas Boughey High School in Staffordshire are selling a range of goods in their Ethical Trading Co-operative, including jewellery made by South African veterans which helps provide income for ex-fighters and their families.
Ian Hislop BBC2 programme on Robert Owen
A new BBC2 series about nineteenth century social reformers visited Robert Owen’s model community New Lanark in Scotland this week, covering the work of the famous forefather of social enterprise.
Robert Owen Day 2010
Students from Reddish Vale Technology College in Stockport and St Peter’s High School in Manchester took part in the Co-operative College’s second Robert Owen Day, using a videoconference to enjoy activities commemorating the famous nineteenth century social reformer, who is often called the father of social enterprise.
Ethical Enterprise Challenge 2011
Following on the success of the first Ethical Enterprise Challenge, which was held in July, the Co-operative College is offering secondary school age students from across the UK the chance to take up the challenge of setting up and running their own business in just three months between January and April next year.
Fairtrade packs for Young Co-operatives from the Fair Traders Cooperative
The Fair Traders Cooperative is offering an exciting opportunity for Young Co-operatives to purchase specially put together packs of ethically traded products – themed around Fashion, Fun, Pampering and Stationary – to sell in their co-operative enterprises in time for Christmas.
Our Coffee Co-operative, Reddish Vale Technology College
Students at Reddish Vale Technology College in Stockport were challenged to set up their own enterprise selling Oromo coffee from Ethiopia in just a day, from devising a business plan to coming up with marketing ideas.
This video was produced by Year 8 members of Our Coffee Co-operative to explain the background to Ethiopia, the importance of coffee to the country’s history and what the members of the co-operative are hoping to achieve, from gaining business experience to "getting satisfaction from helping people get a living wage". As one member of the co-operative states: "For some people, coffee means life!"
The co-operative is an example of community to community trading, with coffee purchased from the Oromo Coffee Company, which is run by Ethiopian refugees in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. The profits will be split 50-50 between the Oromos and the Young Co-operative.
Lia, Director of Our Coffee Co-operative, said: “Our Ethiopian Coffee Co-operative is a great idea! You get an amazing product whilst knowing you are helping others. You also get a great experience from being involved in a trading business that links one community directly with another. It doesn’t cost a great deal either only £3.50 a packet! You can buy it from the reception in school and we are using our money to promote an understanding of an Ethiopian culture in school.
I’m glad to say I’m part of this co-operative approach, and I’m glad for the experience, skills and knowledge I have gained. It’s making a big difference to lives at both a local and global level!”
Abiyot, a director of Oromo Coffee Company, who visited the school, added: "I would like to say thank you very much. We enjoy it coming to your school and sharing with you our quality product and Oromo Coffee Co-operative objectives. You proved that OCC objectives are not only for this generation but are even more important for all our coming generations. Again, we are very happy to work with you and look forward to taking this fantastic idea to further success. You are also the OCC speaker because together we can make the difference. In hope, Abiyot."
Read more about the Oromo Coffee Company here.