Have you seen the new TV commercial from The Co-operative? It first aired on Monday 7 March and tells how the Rochdale Pioneers, who established the first successful co-operative in 1844, started a revolution which is still going strong.
You can't beat a brand with heritage and ethical credentials and The Co-operative have both by the bucket load. Today in the UK, as well as The Co-operative Group with its six million members and 5,000 outlets across its family of businesses including food, financial services, travel, pharmacy and funerals, there are thousands of other co-operators who share the same heritage.
There's a great project which has helped encourage bees in urban areas, numbers of which have been steadily dwindling. Funding from The Co-operative helped Urban Bees to run training courses for beginners, give talks and work in partnership with other organisations and companies.
As a result 20 new hives have been established on rooftops and in community gardens and allotments across London, and they will have given training and start-up equipment to approximately 300 people by the end of 2011.
Perhaps less well known are the overseas co-operatives such as the smallholder tea farmers in Kenya. Did you know The Co-operative invest £7 million a year in some of the world’s poorest countries to support initiatives that will benefit farmers, their families and the entire community.
There's strength in numbers and being part of a co-operative means the tea farmers have increased their negotiating power which provides access to markets previously closed to them. It has also helped them to achieve Fairtrade certification, so they can supply tea for the Co-op's ‘99’ Fairtrade tea blend. All of which means they will now get a fair return for their crop.
For more information you can take a look at the Co-op's Facebook page and if you want to get involved why not check out their join the revolution page!
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