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Annual Report - 2009/10
As always it has been a busy year for Co‑operatives South East. We are all working in challenging times but are very proud of the achievements of co‑operatives in the region and we have been working hard to promote co‑operation and to create the right environment to enable co‑operatives to thrive. Below are some of the things we have been doing.
Co‑operative Enterprise Hub
The aims of this project were to increase our representation, promotion, development and expansion of the co‑operative movement in the South East of England by:
1. Recruiting new members of Co‑operativesSE
2. Further development of Co‑operativesSE, raising profile and influence of the organisation
3. Enhancing communications with members and non members and (4) continue to arrange high profile networking events for members.
Achievements:
· Increased membership
· Successful AGM, trade fair and networking event
· Provision of Diversity Training events within the region
· Regular meetings of the Management Committee
· Attendance at relevant events to promote co‑operative sector
· Representation on key bodies within the region
· Second Edition of newsletter produced and circulated
· Second Edition of brochure produced and circulated
· Regular circulation of information and consultation documents to members
Marketing and Communications
One of our key challenges this year has been to start to improve our communications with both members and non-members. This work has taken a number of different forms including; improving our contact information for co‑operatives in the region, survey of members to find out how and when they would like us to communicate with them and the development of a database of individuals in the region we would like to inform and influence about the work of co‑operatives.
Governance & Membership
We have been delighted to welcome 14 new members to Co‑operativesSE in the last year. These are;
· Supporters Direct
· Oxford Cycle Workshop Training
· Elm Tree Housing Co‑operative
· Common Cause Co‑operative
· Hampshire Fare
· Whomadeyourpants?
· Shared Interest
· Tablehurst and Planhatch Community Farm
· Smart Energy Co‑operative
· A2Z Probate Research Limited
· Co‑operative and Community Finance
· Oxford Bread Group
· Westmill Wind Farm Co‑operative
· Red Ochre
The se2 partnership
The se2 partnership is the regional social enterprise body in the South East. Co‑operativesSE continues to hold a position on the board in order to represent and promote the co‑operative movement. Through this we have been able to promote the work of co‑operatives in the region to agencies such as SEEDA and Government Office for the South East. We also work to ensure that policy and activities in the region are reflective of the successes and challenges of co‑operatives
SEASON
SEASON is a capacity builders funded project which Co‑operativesSE are delivering on behalf of the regional social enterprise partnership (the se2 partnership). The purpose of the project is to create a network of social enterprise advisers across the South East region.
Membership of the network was launched in November 2009 and we currently have about 40 members. The first activities of the network were the delivery of a series of 9 seminars across the region covering:
· Changes to legislation for social enterprise legal structures (Companies Act 2006)
· Advising on Community Share issues
· Social Impact
The feedback from the seminars was excellent and has certainly offered advisers in the region the opportunity to come together and discuss issues of common concern. Building on this SEASON is launching a Meet Each Other Programme for the advisers so that they can get together and identify areas of mutual benefit.
Work with Co‑operativesUK
We continue to work closely with Co‑operativesUK and as part of our membership drive continue to look to raise their profile in the region. We participate in the network meetings of the Regional Co‑operative Councils organised by Co‑operativesUK. These meetings enable the sharing of good practice and information across the country.
Our Thanks …..
Once again our thanks go to the Co‑operative Fund and Midcounties Co‑operative who continue to provide financial support to Co‑operativesSE to enable it to work on behalf of the co‑operative sector across the South East region.
We have been very grateful for all the hard work of Kathy O’Keeffe who is our Business and Communications Manager. Without her very little of this would have been possible.
Many thanks also to the board who continue to work hard on behalf of Co‑operativesSE. They are:
· Di Bateman
· Felix Lozano
· Chris Funnell
· Jean Nunn Price
· Tom Hall
· Andrew Syrett
· Ann Hayes
· Jo White
· Owen Jell
Jo White
Chair
May 2010
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