Film director Ken Loach has been confirmed as a speaker at the Ways Forward 5 conference on 20 January in Manchester.
Loach, who is known for his socially critical directing style, will be talking about his work and its intended impact. His most recent film, I, Daniel Blake (2016), received the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making him the ninth filmmaker to win the award twice.
Alongside greats such as Kes, Cathy Come Home, Riff-Raff and The Navigators, Loach directed Looking for Eric, which features supporter-owned co-operative FC United. While the film raised many issues about football, there are also “messages about approaches to life in general”, said Loach.
Also appearing at the conference is shadow chancellor John McDonnell MP, who will discuss radical alternatives to austerity, and Ed Mayo (secretary general of Co-operatives UK), Iain Macdonald (former director general of the Alliance) and Cheryl Barrott (vice chair of the Co-operative Party), among others.
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The annual event, organised by Co-operative Business Consultants (CBC), is aimed at co-operators, trade unionists and activists from anti-austerity parties and social enterprises for shaping new progressive policies to combat the austerity agenda.
Other issues to be debated include global alternatives to global capitalism; platform co-ops; community finance; elderly health and social care; and co-operative economies in Rojava.
- Ways Forward 5 takes place on Friday 20 January 2017, from 9.30am-4.30pm at Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JQ, and is sponsored by North West Housing Services, Anthony Collins Solicitors, Co-operative & Community Finance, The Midcounties Co-operative, The Co-operative College, The Phone Co-opand Co-operative Business Consultants.
- To book your place, contact Phil Frampton on 07901 338700 or email phil@cbc.coop.
- A late booking fee of £15 is chargeable after 11 January.
