SCSI/UKSCS Conference

By admin on September 4, 2024 in Uncategorized

Co-operation among Co-operators: The Irish-British Connection

Date: 21-22 February 2025
Location
Boundary Brewery Co-operative

The UK Society for Co-operative Studies and the Society for Co-operative Studies Ireland invite you to attend this landmark event in Belfast in what represents an important moment in the development of the movement across these islands. The year 2025 has been identified as the International Year of Co-operatives with the theme of ‘Co-operatives Build a Better World’. Consequently, the UKSCS and SCSI believe we have a one-off opportunity to bring co-operative knowledge and insights from across Ireland and Britain to understand how our movement plays a prominent role in this work.
The organisers ask delegates to consider what role co-operatives can play in building a better economy on these islands, particularly in the context of recent political developments as well as ongoing dialogue around Ireland’s constitutional future.
A wide range of disciplinary and methodological approaches to co-operative questions will be considered, including, but not limited to, history, sociology, business, and economics. We particularly welcome papers from co-operative practitioners as well as researchers of the movement.
Potential themes and questions you may wish to consider in your proposals:
• How far have we prepared Co-ops to inspire the current generation and what steps are needed to ensure they remain relevant and inspirational for future generations?
• How can we increase the visibility of co-operatives?
• How does the future (and history) of education in co-operative development matter co-operatives today?
• What can an understanding of the relationship between a co-operative movement and the state reveal about the fortune and prospects for the movement in the different jurisdictions across these islands?
• What supports exist and are needed to drive co-operative development?

The organisers invite contributions from scholars from multiple disciplines and theoretical approaches, as well as from practitioners in the form of academic paper presentations, project presentations, thematic/sectoral panel proposals, and practical activities that advance our understanding on issues covered in this year’s conference theme and beyond. Please create an abstract (maximum 750 words) and submit it by 15 December 2024 at membership@ukscs.coop.

If you need any support to submit an abstract please do get in touch with Patrick Doyle, SCSI Chair, at patrick.marydoyle@gmail.com

Key Dates
Deadline for Proposals (Abstracts): 15th December 2024
Notification of Acceptance: 10th January 2025
Opening of Registration: 10th January 2025
Final Registration Date: 17th February 2025

SCSI Educational Resources: Co-operatives and the SDGs

By admin on September 25, 2023 in Uncategorized

The next set of educational resources aimed at transition students focuses on the ways in which c-operative play a role in helping communities realise the aims contained in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

These resources were generously funded by the Golden Jubilee Trust and the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society.

Co-operative Educational Resources Developed by the SCSI

By admin on June 8, 2023 in Uncategorized

The SCSI has developed a series of important educational resources ready to be used by teachers and lecturers to help students learn about the co-operative movement across Ireland. These resources have been developed in a way that provides teachers with the tools required for a lesson plan ready to be rolled out into the classroom or lecture hall.

These resources are being made freely available to advance a wider understanding of the significance of the co-operative economy, both in Ireland and internationally. As such we welcome feedback from educators who use these resources and are looking to gather feedback.

These resources were generously funded by the Golden Jubilee Trust and the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society.

The first lecture pack, introducing the concept of co-operation and co-operative societies, is available to download here.

Welcome back!

By admin on April 14, 2023 in Uncategorized

What is the World’s Oldest Housing Co-operative?

By admin on May 9, 2019 in Uncategorized

How has an idea over 175 years old, been applied to housing co-operatives and more interestingly (to us at least), when was this idea of co-operating in line with the Rochdale Pioneers seven co-operative principles applied to housing, and what has it meant for how people around the world view housing?

There is much debate about co-operatives and their history, with the idea being one which comes natural to many people, and countless examples of it being applied across the world to address different social and economic challenges. A great example of this is the Shore Porters Society in Aberdeen which was founded just 6 years after Christopher Colombus sailed across the atlantic (1498).

When we look at the application of this idea with regards to housing, we can see a much more recent history. Albany in Picaddily, London is perhaps the world’s oldest example of people living co-operatively (under one member, one vote rules). Founded in 1804 and continue to be occupied until today, Albany is a beautiful Georgian building in the heart of London that has a history (and historical members) who are as interesting as the application of the idea itself. Moving from the hands of royalty into being converted into 69 different living “sets” a unique approach to organising what was once a palatial mansion house. It was however, not would we would think as true co-operative living, the house excluded women from living there until 1880, and was a place for wealthy bachelors, not necessarily a way to overcome social and economic barriers.

However, the people who’ve darkened Albany’s doors reads like a who’s who of British social, cultural and political life over the years, Lord Byron, William Ewart Gladstone (PM) and Thomas Babington Macaulay (historian). It the 20th century, Edward Heath (PM), Sir Thomas Beecham (conductor), Graham Greene (novelist), Sir A.M. Carr-Saunders (co-op historian), Aldous Huxley (writer) and JB Priestley (writer and co-founder of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) all called it home. And its 21st century members (now open also to women, but not to any child under 14) have included Terence Stamp (actor), Fleur Cowles (US writer & editor), Sir Simon Jenkins (writer), Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Lord Snowden (society photographer), Margaret Thatcher, for just a few days (PM), and David and Evangeline Bruce (US ambassador to UK).

It’s prominence in the social and cultural life in Britain has led to it being well referenced in fiction, even Ireland’s own Oscar Wilde’s novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” references several scenes which take place in the apartment of the protagonist in Albany.

But what makes it a co-operative if it’s just filled with wealthy bachelors and bachelorettes (children under 14 are not allowed), well, the owner of a set is called a Proprietor. The Proprietors elect a board of trustees which governs Albany and vets prospective proprietors prior to completion of the purchase and taking up of residence.

So whilst the idea may not be one in which we’d typically associate with (or expect from) co-operatives today, it does indeed stand as an example of co-operative living going back more than 215 years. With thanks to the fantastic work by Coop News. This article first appeared in Co-operative Housing Ireland News