Greenwood Craft Co-operative
An exhibition to showcase local co-operatives was held in Wellington Market on 19 June, the launch day of the first national Co-operatives Fortnight. The event was part of a major sector-wide campaign to spread the message about co-operatives.
Sponsored by the Co-operative Group, this is the first time since the co-operative business model was developed in Rochdale over 165 years ago, that the entire movement has celebrated the role of co-operatives nationwide.
“Co-operatives Fortnight is a celebration of an alternative economy and a chance for local consumers to buy co-operatively, bank co-operatively, invest co-operatively and work co-operatively,” said organiser Paul Kalinauckas, chairman of Co-operatives West Midlands. Exhibitors at Wellington Market included the Wrekin Care Co-operative, Greenwood Craft Co-operative, Sutherland Co-operative Traders and Sustain who promote local food co-operatives. There was also a special guest appearance from Roary the Tiger, mascot of the newly formed co-operative Tiger Tracks, who run the Telford Tigers Ice Hockey Team
Mr Kalinauckas added “The time really has come for a new agenda of co-operation, with Co-operatives UK already highlighting the co-operative alternative across many sectors of society – from pubs to football clubs, healthcare to agriculture, credit unions to community owned shops”
