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Press Release
| Headline: | Benenden Healthcare joins national campaign for co-operation |
| Story Date: | 07/06/2010 |
York-based Benenden Healthcare Society has pledged its continuing support to the ideals of mutuality by becoming the newest member of Co-operatives UK.
Co-operatives UK is the national trade body that campaigns for co-operation and, as Benenden Healthcare is a friendly society run for members - and one of the most active mutuals in the UK - it was only natural that Benenden Healthcare Society would join Co-operatives UK particularly now with the renewed interest in co-operation within public services.
One of the UK's longest serving and most respected mutual healthcare societies, Benenden Healthcare has a membership of more than 940,000 that includes current or former public sector employees, registered charities and other organisations whose aims and objectives are deemed compatible with those of the Society.
Now, working closely with Co-operatives UK, Benenden Healthcare is planning to strengthen its links with the co-operative movement and to develop and build on its unique position in the market.
"Our mutuality and our democratic structure means that members play an active role in the running of the Society," said Ken Hesketh, Chief Executive of Benenden Healthcare.
"There is a fascinating policy debate at the moment that could herald the rejuvenation of mutual organisations' role in society. We should celebrate the fact that in democracies there is always a plurality of views. But there is a growing consensus on the extended role and benefits that mutual organisations can provide to the UK health and wellbeing marketplace.
"In our Society we believe that promotion of existing and establishment of new mutual organisations, in all their guises, can only serve to promote a more active and inclusive society. This is sorely needed in the wake of a recession which has seen consumers re-evaluate their priorities and demand more transparency from those organisations they rely upon.
"We at Benenden welcome this policy debate and hope that in the months and years to come we can help shape public policy makers thinking in this area. Once again in our society, the feeling’s mutual."
Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, said: "We are delighted to welcome Benenden Healthcare to Co-operatives UK. Our role is to promote and support co-operatives and to offer them a collective voice.
"Benenden Healthcare has operated on co-operative principles since it was formed 105 years ago, and has been run for its members with no shareholders to satisfy financially."
To find out more about Benenden Healthcare and other products within the Benenden Healthcare Group, please visit www.benenden.org.uk.