An update on the work of the development programmes delivered by Co-operatives UK Co-ops looking to grow face a number of challenges: not least, raising funds, finding the right skills and responding to changing circumstances. In the UK, one of the places they...
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In 1997 the Robert Owen Group launched a co-operative school centred initial teacher training project through the Marches Consortium and in partnership with the University of Gloucester. The scheme rapidly grew and became the largest of its type in the United Kingdom , successfully training over 3,700 post graduates who now work in our schools and colleges with many at senior leadership levels. Alongside this we launched a Master’s level programme for trainers in schools and for former trainees and teachers to access as career progression.
It became clear that the absence of an institute of higher education in the Marches sub region posed a real impediment to developing research, seminal thinking and platonic discourse. We often ignore the valuable infrastructure that comes with a quality centre of higher education. The Directors of the Marches Consortium developed a Robert Owen Learning Academy in Leominster and encouraged many ‘hub’ schools to have satellite post graduate libraries for their ‘clusters’.
This is all now background history but our 1998 creation of “query” as a radical journal of left field thinking has now in 2021 led to the addition of this section to the Marches Hive website. We want to stimulate thinking, discussion and the sharing of relevant news and knowledge.
We called the original 1990’s journal query because our minds turned to the creation in the 1870’s of the Tredegar Medical Aid Society which started life as as ‘Health and Education Fund’. In 1920 Walter Conway , Aneurin Bevan and others formed the radical Query Club as a new development. The Club was a cross between a debating society, a mutual support group , a focus for sharing contemporary knowledge and a body set on advancing radical thinking to address the issues of the day. In those times adult education was very much in cells following on the model of the early Methodist house groups.
We believe the challenges of today in many ways mirror those of one hundred years ago and we do encourage everyone’s to engage with query and to share your thoughts, views, knowledge and understanding so that we can all grow together . Thank you
News Articles
Jamaica’s new social enterprise law promises brighter future for ambitious sector
After many years’ work, Jamaica is on the cusp of gaining formal legal status for its social enterprises. This, campaigners hope, will lead to new opportunities and success for an ambitious sector that has been struggling for recognition and support. Social...
Five reasons to celebrate Fair Tax Week 2022
Graham Drummond – Head of Communications at the Fair Tax Foundation Fair Tax Week 2022 runs in the UK from 11-19th June, incorporating Tax Justice Sunday on 12th June, and is sponsored by Pennon Group and Leeds Building Society. It’s an excellent opportunity for...
Jubilee Greeting to HM The Queen
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll The Directors and members of the Robert Owen Co-operative Society extend our hearty congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen having reached this significant anniversary of her reign. In an increasing turbulent society with shifting...
Sian Louw, an entrepreneur in eSwatini on a mission to change lives and organisations
Sian Louw, ceo and owner, The Pacific Institute Swaziland Startup Story Everyone wants to have the opportunity to become the best versions of themselves, but achieving the desired end goal is not always easy with out expert help. In eSwatini, entrepreneur Sian Louw,...
Helping businesses and communities tackle the climate crisis – Climate Action North
Shehan Perera - Content Manager at Social Enterprise UK Across the UK 35% of social enterprises have already embedded the urgent need to tackle the climate emergency into their constitution or articles of association. Around a further third plan on doing so, showing a...
Social enterprise in Nigeria, the ‘Giant of Africa’, gains momentum
The rapid recent growth of social enterprise in Nigeria – Africa's most populous country – is driven by young people who recognise its potential and the opportunities to tackle social problems. There are estimated to be more than 440,000 social enterprises in Nigeria...
Social enterprise and impact investing events in 2022
Ready to network, learn and get inspired? Don't book your diary without the Pioneers Post roundup of social impact events coming soon – for social entrepreneurs, impact investors and all those working within the global impact economy. 1-2 June UN Global...
The Big Society and the co-operative contribution to Sustainable Communities
A FREE virtual event via Zoom on 2nd July 2022 from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm. Following the considerable success of the Inaugural Lecture in 2021 we would like to invite you to join us at the second Robert Owen Annual Lecture. The scale of the challenge to create and...
The People Tree Wheelchair Campaign
The People Tree Wheelchair Campaign is part of the fair trade fashion brand's Autumn/Winter jewelry collection. The range was created in collaboration with the Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Centre in Kenya, which operates under the Association for the Physically...
