International Year of Co-operatives

The UN Year of Co-operatives was a once in a lifetime opportunity for people around the world to raise awareness of co-operatives as successful, values-driven enterprises that are owned and controlled by their members.

2012 was an exciting year for many reasons – the Diamond Jubilee, Olympics and Paralympics all took place, to name just a few. It was also the year that the United Nations recognised the important job that co-operatives do around the world and declared 2012 International Year of Co-operatives.

As one of the 1.4 million co-operatives around the world, The Co-operative Group played a major role in promoting and supporting co-operative enterprise in the UK and around the globe. We increased our commitment to local communities and celebrated the Year by hosting a wide range of exciting events and activities around the country.

Our 28 page ‘A Special Year’ commemorative publication highlights some of these achievements. From our Smile Tour campervan to the Co-operatives United world festival, from the making of The Rochdale Pioneers film to our support of the Global Poverty Project. The publication shows how by working together, co-operatives build a better world.

This exclusive souvenir booklet is being mailed out to 240,000 of our most active members as a special thank you. 

If you have not received a booklet then please download the PDF on our website www.co-operative.coop/2012 and find out how we celebrated over the course of the year!