Becoming more active as a member

What makes co-operatives different from other retailers is the fact that they are owned and controlled by their members. In Britain today, over 9.5 million people are members of a consumer co-operative.

Joining a co-operative is really easy – just pick up an application form in a nearby store or have a look on the website of your local co-operative society (details given at the end of this pack). Becoming a member usually involves a small joining fee – for The Co-operative Group it’s £1, for instance – but that one payment grants you lifetime membership of a community that shares your goals and ethics, as well as giving you a real say in how the co-operative is run and allowing you to enjoy a share of the profits.

Becoming a co-operative member can benefit you, your community and your co-operative in the following ways:

Sharing the profits

If you use your membership card every time you shop at a co-operative store or use a co-operative service, you’ll receive a regular dividend based on how much you’ve bought. You’re receiving a share of the profits because as a member, you’re an owner!

Concern for the community

Working to improve their local community and the lives of the people in it – whether or not they’re members – is one of the core aims of every co-operative. By becoming a member, you can help shape where and how this support is provided in your local community. 

Democracy and advocacy

Co-operative members have a say in the running of their co-operative – they elect representatives who work with management and the wider community, making sure member views are heard and that co-operatives stay true to their principles. It was the voices of members that played a vital role in ensuring The Co-operative Group became the first major supermarket chain in the UK to stock a wide range of Fairtrade goods. To see some examples of ongoing campaigns, visit The Co-operative Group’s member campaign pages at www.co-operative.coop/membership.

“Our members have been in constant support of trading fairly and regularly prompt the board to extend the range of Fairtrade products we sell and promote the Fairtrade message, not only in Fairtrade Fortnight but throughout the year.” – Chris Herries, Co-operative Group Director

Becoming more active as a member

There are plenty of ways to get stuck in and start co-operating!

Most consumer co-operative societies have staff whose role is to communicate with and support the local community, members and member representatives. If you want to work more closely with your local society, first contact your local membership team. Turn to the back of the pack to find their contact details. 

Working with Membership – co-operation in the community

• Membership staff are often involved in organising community events. Why not explore ways in which you can work together when you’re planning a Fair Trade event? Two heads are better than one!
• Include your local membership team when you’re distributing steering group minutes – they might see an opportunity where their co-operative can offer support to your activities. This could be by offering vouchers, funding or advice.
• Co-operative members are often keen to support local Fair Trade events. If you establish a working relationship with your local membership team, they may be able to email local members to notify them of upcoming events or raise awareness of newly-formed groups.
• You can find out how to get in touch with your local Co-operative Membership office or independent co-operative society on the resources section of this site.

The next few pages show some examples of how Fairtrade Town groups and co-operative membership teams have worked together to achieve great results in their communities. If you have some joint successes to report, let us know at www.co-operative.coop/fairtradetowns. 

Community Fund

The Co-operative Group’s Community Fund is funded by donations from members and was established to support the activities of community groups. Click here to see how a small grant from the fund helped support the activities of the Glossopdale Fairtrade Zone group, as well as information on how your group can apply!

Working with independent co-operative societies

There are several examples of independent societies supporting Fairtrade Towns. For example, in the Midlands; many Fairtrade Towns groups hold their meetings in the Member Relations Centres. John Boyle, Member Relations Officer at Midlands Co-operative Society describes how he communicates co-operative values when he is giving presentations about Fair Trade. Starting with the story of the Rochdale Pioneers, John compares the “honest” scales they used for protecting consumers from unscrupulous traders in 1844 with the scales used by Kuapa Kokoo Fairtrade co-operative in Ghana today. Kuapa Kokoo uses accurate weighing scales that can be understood and checked by illiterate farmers to weigh their cocoa and ensure they get a fair price.