Each branch should have a dedicated email account that is used by the Secretary to act as a point of contact with members in the branch.

The benefits of an email for your branch account include:

• Allow you to send notification about local news, meetings and events to members;
• Improves your branch’s data protection procedures by ensuring members’ data is not kept on your personal account;
• Means you don’t have to give your personal email address as a point of contact to members and those outside the Co-operative Party;
• Helps with the transfer process to a new Secretary when you stand down, meaning you don’t have to forward lots of emails to your successor;
• Reduces your admin by keeping all emails related to your role in the Co-operative Party separate to your personal email account.

There are two easy ways to set up an email account that doesn’t involve too much additional work and brings all the benefits listed above. Each of the options below can be added to apps on your phone, tablet and laptop alongside your personal account.

Free Generic Account

You can set up a free generic email using services such as Gmail or Outlook – for example you could create an account such as:

• AnytownCo-opParty@gmail.com
• Anytown.Co-op.Party@gmail.com
• Anytown_Co-op_Party@gmail.com

Paid-for Co-op Party Account

Head Office can also provide you with an official email account which is managed through Gmail for £55 per year. The advantage of these accounts is that as well as having a party.coop email address, the account is managed by us so we can reset the password should you forget it or if a new officers takes over.
These accounts use the template of:

• anytown@local.party.coop
• anytown@scotland.party.coop
• anytown@wales.party.coop
• anytown@ni.party.coop

To request a Co-op Party Account for your branch please get in touch with Shane Brogan.

Please note, if your branch is in Wales or London, party.coop accounts have been funded for you through your Party Council.