It's Co-operatives Fortnight!

23rd June to 7th July is Co-operatives fortnight. Co‑ops make a difference to people’s lives right around the world. Every year hundreds of co‑ops and organisations across the UK work together to promote co‑ops during Co‑operatives Fortnight.

There are around 2.6 million co-operative enterprises worldwide, with a combined membership of around 1 billion people.

The beauty of co-ops is that they have a global code of values and principles, so tend to be interested not just in business (as usual), but in re-imagining the economy to be fairer and more sustainable.

You can read case studies about the Co-operative difference by clicking here. 

End so-called "Modern Slavery"

The Co-operative Party is proud to be leading the way in campaigning against so-called Modern Slavery.

The Charter opposite is designed for local councils to commit to action on this issue.  Already Labour councils in Islington, Waltham Forest, Stevenage, Lambeth and Oxford  have signed. 

Modern Slavery is one of the great evils of our time, and it's happening under our noses. In nail bars, car washes, farms, factories and restaurants, it is estimated that tens of thousands of people in the UK could be victims. 

Find out more about the issue, and how you can get involved in our campaign by clicking here. 

Labour and Co-operative MPs have been leading the campaign in Parliament.  View the video below to hear some of their contributions. 

Fairtrade Fortnight!

A big thank you to all who came along to our Fairtrade Coffee Morning with Bexhill Fairtrade on Saturday 10th March.

Fair Trade Coffee Morning

In partnership with Bexhill Fairtrade, the East Sussex Branch will be hosting a Fairtrade Coffee Morning to mark Fairtrade Fortnight 2018.

This will be at St Mary Magadalene Church Hall, Sea Road, Bexhill (opposite Bexhill Rail Station- see map link here) on Saturday 10^th March, 10.00am-12 noon.

As well as coffee, tea and cake, there will be a number of stalls, and opportunities to find out more about the work of the Fairtrade movement and the Co-operative Party.

Next Branch Meeting: 13th January

The next meeting of the East Sussex Branch of the Co-operative Party will be held on Saturday 13th January, commencing at 11.00am at the RAF Association, Wish Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4NX (map)

A G E N D A


1. Apologies for Absence

2. Minutes of the October Meeting and any Matters arising

3. Reports:

• Membership
• Finance
• Constituency Labour Parties
• Party Council

4. Annual Conference Report

5. Events: Feedback on the Rochdale Pioneers film showing, and the proposed Housing Event with Lord Roy Kennedy

6. Campaigning in 2018, including any local elections- reference to the Co-op Party's 12 ideas for Local Government Manifestos

7. Any other Business

We will be staying for lunch afterwards, and all members are warmly invited to join us.  The RAFA lunch is always excellent!

FREE Film Showing to celebrate our Centenary

To celebrate 100 years of the Co-operative Party, the East Sussex Branch will be presenting a FREE showing of the film "The Rochdale Pioneers" on Saturday 11th November, at the Curzon Cinema at 11.30am.

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR TICKET!

The Rochdale Pioneers is an inspiring true story that tells how ordinary Lancashire folk struggled to create the foundation of the modern co-operative movement…

William Cooper, his new wife Betty and best friend Samuel Ashworth are three young people fighting for their future. At a meeting in The Weavers' Arms, Cooper and Ashworth join the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers.

The Rochdale Pioneers propose opening a shop that is run by co-operation; an endeavour that has the interests of the community at its heart. They forge a set of principles by which the business must be run.

Butterworth, a private shop owner, vehemently deters local wholesalers from trading with The Pioneers, threatening to sever business if they strike a deal. One such wholesaler, Leach, forms an allegiance with Butterworth in a bid to bring down the co-operative movement…

'The Rochdale Pioneers' was commissioned by The Co-operative Group and produced by The Co-operative British Youth Film Academy (BYFA). It was released in 2012.

Next branch meeting- 7th October

The Next Meeting of the East Sussex Branch of the Co-operative Party will be held on Saturday 7th October, commencing at 11.00am at the RAF Association, Wish Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4NX

A G E N D A

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Any matters arising from last meetings (AGM and Claire McCarthy Meeting)

3. Reports:

• Membership
• Finance
• Constituency Labour Parties
• Party Council

4. Centenary Conference

5. Forthcoming Events- Rochdale Pioneers Film Showing, and Local Training Event

6. Any other Business