Plymouth City Council will be celebrating this year’s Co-operative Fortnight, a nationwide drive to bring people and communities together, with a range of events and promotions alongside member-owned businesses throughout the city.
Taking place from 24 June to 7 July, Co-operative Fortnight encourages people across the country to engage in ‘acts of co-operation’, inspiring people to work together - something that happens every day in co-operative businesses.
As a co-operative council, Plymouth City Council will be celebrating with its own ‘acts of co-operation’. This will include hosting events and promoting the other co-operative activities happening in the city during the two-week event.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development, said: “We are proud to be a co-operative council and are working hard to grow Plymouth’s co-operative economy.
“Co-operatives offer people the chance to have greater control over their own jobs and livelihoods, and importantly they help to keep money within the city, which means that everyone benefits from economic growth.
“During Co-operative Fortnight, we’ll be promoting opportunities to work together as well as showcasing the fantastic work already being done by co-operatives in Plymouth.”
Plymouth City Council has pledged to double the city’s co-operative economy by 2025. There are currently 23 co-operative enterprises based in Plymouth with a membership of over 9,500 people.
Co-operatives are businesses that are owned and controlled by their members, together contributing £36bn a year to the UK economy and spanning all sectors from high street retailers to community-owned pubs, fan-owned football clubs to farmer-controlled businesses.
In the run-up to and during Co-operative Fortnight, events hosted and attended by Plymouth City Council will include:
- 21 to 22 June, Co-op Congress 2019: Representatives from the Council will be attending this annual conference for co-operative members
- 29 June, Plymouth Armed Forces Day: The Council will host a stand in the Veterans’ Village, with more information about working co-operatively
- 5 July, CaterED Co-operative Fortnight Breakfast: Councillor Chris Penberthy and CaterED will host this celebratory event, sharing the principles and values of co-operative working across the city
Other ‘acts of co-operation’ and events taking place throughout the fortnight include:
- 26 June, Credit Union Loan Shark Drop In: Find out more about the benefits of becoming a member of a community run ethical bank and learn how to get advice on avoiding illegal money lending from the City of Plymouth Credit Union
- 28 June, PLUSS and Four Greens Employment Support Event: Access free employment support at this event hosted by Four Greens Community Trust
- 29 June, Nudge Community Market: Head to The Clipper on Union Street for a community market, selling food and bric-a-brac
- 2 July, Plymouth Energy Community (PEC) Bee Solar Party: Welcome PEC’s new bee hives and celebrate their achievement of completing 1,000 home energy visits with this party, featuring guided solar tours, a talk from a bee expert and child-friendly activities
- 4 July, Food Plymouth and Billy Ruffians Clipper Takeover: Drop into The Clipper to learn more about local food retailers and growing projects, plus sample some tasty food and drink
- 24 June to 7 July, McCaren Architecture Consultation: McCaren Architecture are holding free consultations for co-operatives, not-for-profits, social enterprises and community groups with advice on inclusive access to buildings, creating extra space and bringing redundant buildings back to life
For more information about plans to grow the city’s co-operative economy and to see the full Co-operative Fortnight programme, visit investplymouth.co.uk.