From Crisis to Co-operation – East of England regional conference

For the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Co-operative Party is returning to your region in one of a series of in-person Conferences being held across all regions and nations of the UK.  Members and supporters from across the East of England are invited to take part in this event on Saturday 11 March from 10.30am to 3pm in Cambridge (Lord Ashcroft Business School, ARUniversity, Broad Street, CB1 1PT).

This is your Conference and your chance to meet with Co-op Party members from across the East of England to discuss, debate and take part in workshops as we examine the theme ‘From Crisis to Co-operation’ by identifying the local co-operative initiatives that really do make a difference to communities in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

As well as hearing examples of best practice from invited guest speakers – we want to hear from you, our members – on how we can widen ownership in our economy and give people the tools and support to tackle the big issues from inequality, hunger and energy provision to green jobs and high street regeneration.

The programme*

A broad outline of the event is as follows:

10:30  Welcome address and introduction:

• Cllr Anna Smith, Leader Cambridge Council and Deputy Mayor Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

10:45  Keynote address:

• Daniel Zeichner MP for Cambridge & Shadow Minister for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

11:15  Co-operative Party Campaigns update: panel discussion, speakers include: 

• Food Justice: Cllr Jack Abbott,  Labour & Co-operative Parliamentary Candidate for Ipswich & former Suffolk County Councillor
• Community power: Cllr Sandra Barr, Executive Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Co-operative Council, Stevenage Borough Council
• Rob Bates, Political & Parliamentary Officer Co-op Party (chair)

12:00  Policy workshop: Co-operative Party General Election Manifesto development

• Led by: Dan Monaghan, Policy Officer Co-op Party

12:45  LUNCH

13.15  Diverse Voices – the Co-operative Party Equality Networks: Get involved

13.30 Focus on .. the East of England – speakers include:

• Fairtrade: Mayor John Cook, Local Organiser Co-op Party (chair)
• Global Goals: Alice Macdonald – Parliamentary Candidate for Norwich North
• Retrofit: Cllr Neil MacDonald – Portfolio holder for Housing, Ipswich Borough Council
• Modern Slavery: Cllr Julian Gibbs – Ipswich Borough Council

14.00 Delivering a co-operative agenda locally, speakers include:

• Elizabeth Dennis-Harberg, Leader of North Herts Council
• Rob Bates, Political & Parliamentary Officer Co-op Party (chair)

15.00 -end-

Following the Conference there will be the opportunity to get out and door-knock for a local Labour & Co-operative candidate.

*Subject to change

Venue

LAB 027, Ground Floor, Lord Ashcroft Building, Broad Street, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT.

This is the orange building on this map: https://s33842.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cambridge-campus-and-city-map.pdf 

Travel

The venue is located close to Cambridge mainline station.  Those travelling by car are advised to ‘park and ride’ due to traffic congestion in Cambridge.  There is blue-badge parking available adjacent to the Lord Ashcroft Building (information on parking, rail links and park & ride is on the map link above).

Conference Registration