The Co-op Group is seeking members from across the UK to join its National Members’ Council.
The Council, formed in 2014, comprises 100 members who are elected to act as the guardians of the organisation’s purpose, constitution, and its values and principles. The Council also works closely with the board and senior managers to ensure that the voice of ordinary members is heard throughout the organisation, with the power to hold the board to account.
Once elected, council members can serve a term between one and three years before requiring re-election; there are currently 25 seats up for election in 11 regions. Nominations are open until midday on 15 February.
“We’re looking for people who are passionate about their communities and are representative of the people who live there, as well as being committed to upholding co-operative values,” says Nick Crofts, president of the National Members’ Council.
“Members on our Council will contribute to shaping the future of one of the world’s largest consumer co-ops, and helping us to deliver our ambition to create a stronger Co-op and stronger communities.”
To qualify to stand for election as a Council representative, members need to have joined before 3 January 2016 and have earned 1,000 membership points (the equivalent of spending £20 a week on groceries in Co-op Food stores) between 7 January 2018 and 5 January 2019.
Elected members attend Council meetings throughout the year at 1 Angel Square in Manchester and receive an annual fee of £3,000. Members also receive an employee discount card, which can be used at Co-op Food stores and other Co-op Group businesses.
Council members come from all walks of life and include ordinary members (people who use its businesses), colleague members (people who work for the Co-op) and members from independent co-operative societies. It helped to develop the Group’s Member Pioneer programme, which connects people in our communities and supports members, colleagues and local causes with any issues. It is also tasked with taking the Co-op’s message out to members in their communities.
Rebecca Hamilton is one of the Group’s colleague members. “I started working for the Co-op 19 years ago and I first heard about the Member Council under the new governance structure,” she says. “I thought as a colleague I would like to volunteer my time and join. So I put myself forward and I was so pleased to have been elected. It was really inspiring and I thought ‘right, what can I do for our members?”
The youngest council member is Zach Evans, who originally joined the Group as a member on the back of the five and one initiative.
“I was quite young when I joined, I thought it was a really good incentive, but I didn’t know much about the movement,” he says. “Then I got involved with the Co-operative Party and from there met a few council members who were also involved in the party.
“I’m really excited about Co-op’s future because the Co-op is caring for the future. As a young person, I’m really passionate about helping the environment and helping local communities. I’m really aligned with them on that. Recently we’ve heard about our compostable plastic bags, which I think is a massive step forward for a retail business. And the other campaigns that Co-op is focusing on, like modern day slavery, are ones I can really get behind.”
For more information on how to apply, visit co-operative.coop/councilelection. To find out more or check if you’re eligible to stand for election, email: [email protected]
Constituency vacancies 2019
Cymru/Wales: 4 seats / 1 vacancy
East Midlands: 6 seats / 2 vacancies
East of England: 5 seats / 2 vacancies
Isle of Man: 1 seat / 0 vacancies
London: 6 seats / 2 vacancies
North East: 3 seats / 1 vacancies
North West: 9 seats / 3 vacancies
Northern Ireland: 2 seats / 0 vacancies
Scotland: 10 seats / 3 vacancies
South East: 9 seats / 3 vacancies
South West: 10 seats / 3 vacancies
West Midlands: 4 seats / 2 vacancies
Yorkshire & the Humber: 8 seats / 3 vacancies
