become an elected member
Area Committees are the first tier of our democratic structure and have an extremely important and varied role, representing the views of members in their area. (In Northern Ireland the structure is slightly different - we have the Northern Ireland Members’ Council).
Our 48 committees are made up of likeminded members who want to have a say in how we serve our customers, run our stores and support our communities. Our committee members are the eyes and ears of our business.
Members interested in joining a committee must first stand for election, where other members can vote for them. If successful, they become the voice of other members, stakeholders and the communities The Co-operative serves and supports.
There are lots of great reasons to become an elected member of The Co-operative Group, why not join the revolution and stand for election. Watch this space for details of when nominations open for the 2012 elections.
If you’d like to know more, take a look at our short film Get Active to hear first hand how our elected members play an important role in the business
There are also some short videos in the following sections of our website which explain everything you need to know about becoming a member representative:
Put yourself forward
We are delighted that you are considering standing for election as an Area Committee [or N Ireland Members’ Council] member. This is an extremely exciting time to be involved in the Co-operative Group for a host of reasons – not least the recent launch of our Ethical Operating Plan, which commits The Co-operative to continuing to lead the way in respect of social responsibility.
Click here if you are interested in standing for election in 2012
Whatever your background is, no matter how old you are, if you want to get involved we’d love to hear from you! Find out about our election briefings and the election timetable right here or get in touch with your Regional Membership team to find out how you could represent the members in your area.
Watch our Election Briefing Video which explains about diversity in our democracy...
Tricia Davies
Area Committee
member
Elected in 2009
“I’ve been a regular customer at my local Co-operative Food store for years. I’d known about the co-operative model since I was little because my grandmother and great grandmother also used to shop in their local Co-operative Food Stores and I was always proud to keep the tradition going, but it was only when an Area Committee member approached me in the store about becoming more involved with the business that I thought about taking on that role myself. I then spoke to the store manager, completed the application, and before I knew it, I’d been elected to my Area Committee.
Attending the meetings is just the start. There are so many different ways to get involved. As an accountant, I’m interested in the business side of things, but I also love going out and meeting the people benefiting from The Co-operative Community Fund and seeing the real difference that it can make to deserving projects. It’s varied, interesting, offers lots of opportunities and has opened a whole new world to me. It really gives me a feeling of belonging.
My proudest moment since joining The Co-operative was presenting an award to a lad who was involved with running a StreetGames project in Swindon. It felt like we were really making a difference.”
Ask for your free Re:act Magazine
If you believe in playing a positive role in your community and leading the way on environmental issues, you’ll find our free bi-annual magazine a great read. Call us on 0800 023 4708 to ask for your copy.