CCH Bulletin Summer 2000
The Co-op Movement to the rescue?
The Confederation of Co-operative Housing would like to thank the delegates at the recent Co-operative Congress, held in Manchester, for passing a motion calling for "all societies in the co-operative family to assist in the development of co-operative housing societies by supporting the Confederation of Co-operative Housing in its promotional and educational role".
The Co-operative Congress is the annual conference of the Co-operative Union, which brings together different parts of the UK co-operative movement, and primarily the Co-operative retail societies (i.e. the Co-op Shops). The Congress passing a motion to support the housing co-op movement is a clear indication that the major players in the co-operative movement are committed to developing strategies to promote and support housing co-operatives, and it presents a major opportunity for us.
Housing Co-ops and Credit Unions seemed to play a significant role at the Congress, with the CCH's Nic Bliss being given a special co-operative contribution award by the UK Co-operative Council and with much discussion amongst delegates about how the more established sectors of the Co-operative Movement can help the smaller sectors take root.
This is especially pertinent at the moment due to the establishment of a "Co-ops Commission", with the support of Tony Blair, to consider the future of the co-operative movement. The CCH, in partnership with the UK Co-operative Council, are planning to make a joint submission to the Co-ops Commission about how the co-operative movement should support the housing co-op movement.
The importance of the worldwide co-operative movement was stressed by keynote speaker at the Congress, Roberto Rodrigues, the President of the International Co-operative Alliance, who stated in a passionate address, that co-operation provides the only realistic alternative to the worldwide spread of globalisation and the power of the multinational corporations.
