Calling for cooperation

Rochdale – birthplace of cooperation

Rochdale is best known for being the birthplace of cooperation.

Rochdale's cooperatives are getting together and hosting a community fun day on 22 June with various activities taking place in the Town Hall, Touchstones and Rochdale Pioneers Museum, 10am-4pm.

The highlight of the cooperative calendar is the forthcoming battle between Rochdale Hornets and Hemel Stags. It is the clash of the titans in the cooperative world with the management of each team being run as cooperative models.

Councillor Peter Williams, cabinet member for economic development and customer services, said: “Our cooperative story is impressive, we’re proud of our pioneering history. We’re very supportive of cooperative models and our business start-up programmes can offer entrepreneurs lots of help and advice. An ideal time to find out more is in Cooperative Fortnight as well as it being a fun celebration.

“Rochdale Hornets has been running as a successful cooperative for many years. It will be interesting to see the principles of cooperation and competition play out at this rugby match.”