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Young Co-operatives
In August 2007 the Co-operative College add Young Co-operatives to its portfolio. Since 2002 Young Co-operatives has been helping school students to start their own Fairtrade co-operatives with a clear message “Putting Ethics into Practice”
Members of Young Co-operatives gain practical business experience, learn to work as part of a democratic team and, by selling only fairly traded products, make a direct difference to some of the world's poorest producers and their families.
There are already over 300 Young Co-operatives that have been set up since the scheme started five years ago. The College aims to continue to support the existing Young Co-operatives while helping new enterprises get off the ground by offering practical hands on help. For students aged 14+ there is a certificate in Co-operative and Fairtrade Enterprise.
We are now working to update the existing resources and extend the current model to schools and the wider youth sector.
To learn more about Young Co-operatives, why not visit their website or read their newsletter (pdf 620kb)?
Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, visited the College in February to meet students involved with Young Co-operatives. During the visit, groups of young people from five schools took part in a range of activities designed to learn more about Fair Trade and passed on their concerns to the Minister about the need to create a more just world.
Watch a video of the event... (opens in a new window)
For more information contact: Steve Kingman, Learning & Development Manager for IT, Events and Schools Enterprise on 0161 246 2966 or by email.