Did You Know?
- Co-op stores were the first supermarket chain to stock and sell Fair Trade produce?
- The Co-op Bank, CIS and Smile internet bank all have strict ethical investment policies?
- New Lanark is a living link with the birth of the Co-operative Movement in Scotland? With its own education officer, New Lanark offers a wide range of interesting tours, suitable for school visits.
Inspiring co-operative enterprise through education
Co-operative Approach
The Co-operative Movement
CETS works with the wider co-operative movement to develop awareness of the benefits of co-operation. The co-operative movement in Britain was established in 1844, when the early pioneers came together to provide affordable services on a co-operative basis for their members. Interestingly, Scotland has its own claim to having one of the first co-operatives. The Fenwick Weavers were established in 1761 in Fenwick, a small village in East Ayrshire. There is still debate relating to the validity of the Fenwick Weavers claim to being the first co-operative enterprise in the world.
Today, the Co-operative Sector extends from banking, food-stores and agriculture, through to credit unions, housing and workers co-ops. The co-operative movement is described in detail in our latest resource.
The International Community
CETS is not just part of the co-operative movement in Britain. World-wide, there are estimated to be over 800 million people whose lives are associated with co-operatives. The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) is the umbrella group for co-operatives across the world, and is based in Switzerland. The ICA is the largest NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) in the world.
Values and Principles
All co-operatives are governed by an internationally agreed set of values and principles.
Values
- Self-help - co-operatives help people to help themselves.
- Self-responsibility - co-operatives take responsibility for, and answer to, their actions.
- Democracy - members have an equal say in the way the co-operative is run.
- Equality - no matter how much money a member invests in the co-operative, they still have one vote.
- Equity - co-operatives operate in a fair and unbiased manner.
- Solidarity - co-operatives share interests and common purposes with their members and other co-operatives.
- Openness
- Honesty
- Social responsibility
- Caring for others
Principles
The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.- Voluntary and open membership - membership is open to everyone.
- Democratic member control - all members have an equal voice in making policies and electing representatives.
- Member economic participation - all profits are controlled democratically by members and for their benefit.
- Autonomy and independence - co-operatives are always independent, even when they enter into agreements with the Government and other organisations.
- Education, training and information - co-operatives educate and develop their members as well as their staff.
- Co-operation amongst co-operatives - co-operatives work together with other co operatives to strengthen the co-operative movement as a whole.
- Concern for community - co-operatives also work to improve and develop the community, both locally and internationally.