Our members made their voices count at the 2025 AGM

Hi, I’m Yas – a proud Co-op Colleague and Co-op Young Member. This year marked my fourth time attending our AGM, and honestly, it was the most inspiring one yet and it surpassed my expectations!

Held at Co-op Live and streamed to members across the country—including six local events hosted by Member Activators—this AGM felt like a true celebration of co-operation in action. From the moment I arrived, the energy was electric. You could feel the care and commitment that had gone into making the day inclusive, engaging, and meaningful - from the marketplace to the presentations, our Members’ Discussion, and opening the floor to our members' questions.

What struck me most was the power of our collective voice. Whether it was tackling the aftermath of the cyber-attack, debating animal welfare, exploring more skills and opportunities initiatives, Co-op’s responsibility to respond to global conflicts or discussing the cost-of-living crisis, every voice mattered. We didn’t always agree—but that’s the beauty of democracy and something to feel pride in. As our CEO, Shirine Khoury-Haq, pointed out: in a world where people’s voices are often silenced, our Co-op is doing the opposite. We’re listening, learning, and acting.

As a Co-op Young Member, this really resonates with me - as the world we live in feels scarier each day, being part of a business that stands for fairness and listening restores my hope for our future. I’ve learned there are over 1 million new members since last year, and so if this was your first AGM as a Co-op Member, I hope this gives you a good introduction to our essence.

There was a brief interruption by Animal Welfare protestors, reinforcing their support for the slower growing breed ask included in Motion 12. However, this did not disrupt proceedings for long. It was a respectful, powerful exchange that showed the strength of our democratic space.

The Q&A sessions are always the most interesting part for me. It reminds me a lot of Question Time on TV. Our members are passionate and like to challenge the business they own to do all it can for people and planet, and credit to the Board for their responses and honesty. This section of the day lit a fire in me to learn more about the business' future plans and internal business advocacy. It reminded me why I’m proud to be part of a business that listens.

The Members’ Discussion was a standout moment. A short film about Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom, a 54-year-old village where Palestinians and Israelis live and learn together, moved me deeply and re-affirmed why I believe so fiercely in the co-operative mission. They are celebrating 40 years since founding the first bilingual and binational school for peace in the region and have thousands of graduates. It reminded me that peace is possible—but it takes hard work, dialogue, and hope. Hearing from Peace Players in Northern Ireland, who use basketball to bring people together across divided communities scarred by conflict and hate, was inspiring and hearing members sharing their own stories of conflict and reconciliation gave me goosebumps. It was raw, real, and filled me with pride to be part of a movement that believes in building bridges. I feel immensely proud to belong to the Co-op Movement, always - but especially in that moment.

We also explored climate action, Fairtrade, and the importance of creating opportunities—especially for young people. As someone passionate about youth voice and inclusion, I was heartened to hear calls for more investment in youth work, apprenticeships, and accessible employment.

Despite the challenges we face - from global conflict to economic uncertainty - this AGM reminded me that the Co-op is more than a business. It’s a community. A movement. A place where democracy is alive and well. It was uplifting to feel I’m within a community of passionate advocates and a movement which is true to its core values. All 13 motions were passed and we welcomed new and returning faces. But more importantly, we left with a sense of purpose.

We’re not just members. We’re owners. And together, we’re shaping a better future.

If this was your first AGM, I hope it gave you a glimpse into what we’re all about. And if you couldn’t join us, you can catch the full recording below.