Turn Your Street into a "Nature Street"

Are you a wildlife enthusiast? Do you enjoy gardening? Then join us for an evening with the Sussex Wildlife Trust to find out how you can create a rich wildlife environment in your own garden as part of a growing network of Nature Streets.

Sussex Wildlife Trust are launching a project called Nature Street to inspire people to get together with their neighbours, to create urban wildlife corridors and encourage more wildlife into their gardens. It’s a simple message. We’re asking people to think about what their own bits of outside space can offer to wildlife in a more joined-up way. However big or small your outside space, you can join in! Come and learn all about how to turn your area into a Nature Street.

   

Lewes event

Date: Wednesday 24th October

Time: 7-8.30pm

Location: Linklater Pavilion, Railway lane, Lewes, BN7 2FG

Brighton event

Date: Wednesday 17th October

Time: 7 - 8.30pm

Location: Friends Meeting House , Ship street, Brighton, BN1 1AF

Why is The Co-operative Group encouraging you to get involved? It is our goal to be the most socially responsible business in the UK, and safeguarding biodiversity is one of our environmental priorities. We also offer a range of benefits to our Members and we hope you’ll enjoy this one.

Places are limited and must be booked in advance. Please contact us on 0800 015 1147 or email membership@co-operative.coop to reserve a place.  There are only 20 places available for this event and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Free Film Screening: Sing Your Song

To celebrate diversity and Black History Month, The Co-operative Membership are very excited to be hosting a free film screening of the award winning film Sing Your Song.

Most people know the lasting legacy of Harry Belafonte, the entertainer. This film unearths his significant contribution to and his leadership in the civil rights movement in America and to social justice globally.

This inspiring documentary is about the power of one man’s passion for social change. It has received rave reviews from press around the globe and this is your opportunity to come and watch it.

Date: Monday 22^nd October 2012

Time: 5pm- 7.30pm

Venue: City College, Pelham Street, Brighton BN1 4FA

(Just along the road from the Co-operative Food Store and Funeralcare branch)

Cost: FREE!  And an opportunity to enjoy some fantastic food provided by City College catering students.

Why is the Co-operative encouraging you to get involved? As part of our commitment to delivering the Co-operative Values and Principles we offer our members a wide range of events and activities throughout the year that support them. We hope you’ll enjoy this one.

This is a very popular film and places are limited. Tickets will be given on a first come first served basis. To book and secure your place please contact us on 0800 015 1147 or email membership@co-operative.coop.

Co-Operative Day School

A Conference/Day School for members of the Co-operative Party in the South East is being held on 24 November. It will take place in the Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35-39 London Street, Reading , RG1 4PS. This is about 10 minutes walk from Reading station.

Speakers include Colin Wilkes of the Schools Co-operative Society,  Cllr Steve Reed, leader of Lambeth Council on Co-operative Councils and General Secretary Karen Wilkie on increasing the involvement of women and young people in the Co-operative Party.

Conference fee is £20 per person, which will include simple buffet lunch, coffee/tea on arrival and departure.  Further details can be read at the Co-operative Party website here.

Stop "Legal Loan Sharks"

The Co-operative Party is backing a campaign to regulate companies offering easy credit at exorbitant rates of interest.

Stella Creasy, who is the Labour and Co-operative MP for Walthamstow in East London spoke this week in Brighton at a TUC fringe meeting on this subject, alongside Owen Jones, the bestselling author of Chavs (which looks at the demonisation of the working class  in Britain)

Stella was joined in July by Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party, and by Tom Watson MP, in launching a campaign pack , in association with the Co-operative Party and others.

Stella writes:  "This Government has so far refused to act to tackle the high cost credit companies who are pushing families into crippling debt across Britain. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t take measures to protect them and help make the case for a change in the law to cap the costs of credit. This pack is designed to help with ideas and actions you can take either on your own or together with others to stand up to these companies."

You can download the campaign pack here.

Incidentally, Eastbourne's Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Lloyd has opposed any action against these companies. You can click below to watch his speech last year attempting to justify this, here. If you don’t agree, then the campaign pack contains information to help you write to him, or other elected MPs urging action !