Building a co-operative future on the foundations of a co-operative legacy

Where a global movement started – Toad Lane, Rochdale Pioneers Museum

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In a back street of Rochdale called Toad Lane 169 years ago 28 local working people – half of them aged 30 or under, set out to change the world, and succeeded.

The Rochdale Pioneers bred a worldwide movement that now has a billion members.

Their idealism and vision of a better social order continues to be a source of inspiration on all continents, demonstrating that democracy and social justice can help lift and keep people out of poverty and go hand in hand with business success.

It is fitting that the birthplace of co-operation is gearing up to celebrate and remember the pioneering principles founded in 1844 and explore plans for a more cooperative future during national Cooperative Fortnight (22 June to 6 July 2013).

A special flag raising ceremony will take place on Saturday 22 June 2013 at 9.45am when a bespoke flag created for the town will fly to mark the start of the celebrations.

Rochdale Borough Council Leader, Colin Lambert said: “In flying our bespoke flag we’re signalling to the world that co-operation is still in the hearts of all Rochdalians and considered in the way we do business today.

“We’re enormously proud of our status as the birthplace of co-operation. Our town is world renowned for inspiring a global movement based on fair and inclusive principles. We must continue to both honour our heritage and find new ways of using co-operative principles to meet the challenges of today.”

A Rochdale Co-operatives Fun Day for all the family has also been organised by the Co-operative College and many of Rochdale’s co-operative enterprises to mark the occasion. There are tours of the Rochdale Pioneers Museum and co-operative games to play, a walking tour from Touchstones and family fun activities outside Rochdale Town Hall. Inside Rochdale Town Hall find out more about co-operation at a co-operative marketplace, enjoy a tour of the Town Hall and take part in RBH’s family and community activities.

Mervyn Wilson, Principal of the Co-operative College and a trustee of the Co-operative Heritage Trust who are responsible for the Rochdale Pioneers Museum added: “The Rochdale Pioneers saw the enormous inequalities in wealth and privilege at the time and set out to improve their own lives and those of their communities through co-operative action. They lived to see their model replicated not just in the UK – but globally. Today and throughout co-operatives fortnight we can see how co-operatives are providing a democratic and ethical alternative business model in many sectors of the economy”.

Coinciding with Co-operative Fortnight another local organisation is putting power to the people. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) took ownership of social housing previously owned by the council in a radical move to become the country’s first tenant and employee co-owned mutual landlord. As well as giving tenants and employees a stake in the running of the homes, the move also paved the way for millions of pounds of Government funding that would not otherwise have been available.

Gareth Swarbrick, Chief Executive of RBH, said: “I’m extremely proud that RBH is the first housing mutual to be owned by both tenants and employees, and we’re determined to ensure that the new arrangements allow our members to shape their own destiny”.

On 26 June 2013, the transitional governance arrangements for RBH will end. The new board and the Representative Body, which includes 15 elected tenant representatives and 8 elected employee representatives, will leave "shadow" mode, signifying the start of a true mutual business model.

With RBH on board there are now 29 known co-operative businesses operating within the Rochdale Borough.