North news
News from your region
The Esplanade Hotel in Scarborough was full of co-operation in November when the region held its very first Member Development weekend. 
Aimed at encouraging members to become further involved with the Society, the event featured presentations not just from Co-operative Group representatives but also other local co-operatives and people whose charities and campaigns had benefited from Group support.
Over thirty co-operators attended the event and the feedback was phenomenal, indicating that these delegates were so enthused by what they heard and saw that they wanted to participate in the Groups forthcoming events, perhaps even standing for election in the future.
Almost 1,000 members and food group staff from the Region learnt about the far reaching effects of food waste at nine interactive Watch Your Waste events this autumn.
Utilising the Co-operatives demonstration kitchen these events featured representatives from the government agency, WRAP who provided astonishing facts on the amount of food wasted as well as its effects on the environment and our own pockets!
In order to encourage people to be more canny with their cooking Co-operative chefs, Jill Weatherburn and Mark Earnden then gave tips on household husbandry and with the help of members and our food colleagues rustled up recipes featuring ingredients which are often thrown away rather than being eaten and enjoyed.
The feedback was that the events were enjoyable and educational with many members vowing to plan their meals and waste less in the future.
On 14 November, 75 young people and 15 mentors met together for the annual Peracejam Peaceslam. This year's theme was "What is fair" and a packed days program included a Co-op presentation, a range of workshops and a video message from Desmond Tutu. 
The young people at the days event were very enthusiastic about the importance of the event, Lauren, 15 said; “For me it’s new and different, we are learning about Fairtrade at school and it has made me more interested in these issues.” While Hamza, 17 shared why he wanted to be part of the 'Slam; “I want to appreciate others and show them respect, which is unusual in my school. I want to take what I learn here into the community.”
The North membership team have launched the Co-operative Membership Global Call to Action Grant scheme, and will be supporting two projects ran by the young people on Fairtrade and Burma. The membership team will contiune in 2010 to "work on behalf of our members to inspire young people."
Working towards Sustainable Communities
Transition North Conference – 2009
Transition North conference took place on Friday 6th November in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire. The conference was attended by 200 Co-operative members and transitioners from across the North region. The event was supported and funded by the Co-operative membership team North Region.
Keynote speakers included: Rob Hopkins , founder of the Transition Movement: and author of The Transition Handbook: Christine Tacon: Managing Director of Co-operative Farms and Peter Couchman : CEO of The Plunket Foundation.
16 workshops had delegates buzzing with excitement from Incredible Edibles, Guerilla gardening to a happiness workshop.
The conference marked the beginning of a partnership between two movements - The Co-operative movement which stretches back in time to the pioneers and the Transition movement , a fledgling movement by comparison , but one which is hoped by many :
"could well be the start of an important new initiative - the coming together of the long established Cooperative movement and the rapidly growing Transition movement - to create exciting new opportunities for a sustainable future for all of us".
To listen to the keynote speeches and the plenary sessions go to www.transitionnorth.net
It’s a Dog’s Life
As a part of our commitment to supporting our charity of the year – the RNID, the Co-operative Membership in the North region has sponsored a hearing dog from the charity ‘Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’.
Our £1000 donation will finance a ‘New Beginning’, which supports the charity in acquiring a puppy or young dog, and placing them with one of their volunteer socialisers.
We plan to have a representative and a dog from ‘Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’ at our half-year meetings in Harrogate and Newcastle.
For further information on the charity, please see www.hearingdogs.org.uk
For further information on events or activities near you, please contact your Regional Office below:-
The Co-operative Group
North Region
Membership Department
Co-operative Retail Logistics
Unit 2
Drum Park
Drum Industrial Estate
Chester-le-Street
Co Durham
DH2 1AE
Telephone: 0191 411 2344
Email: membership.northeast&cumbrian@co-operative.coop