We are sending Invitations out to ask co-operators in rural businesses and communities to tell us what keeps you up at night or helps you look forward to todays work.

The Co-operative Party has set up a Commission to reflect on existing Co-operative Party policy, highlight policies which will double the size of the co-operative sector and which build community power in rural areas.

Do you or members of your branch or Society know of local co-operatives engaged in the rural community.

The Party is inviting Co-operatives to meet a commissioner and share their successes and difficulties in running a co-op in the rural community. Whether a Farmers Co-op or a community owned shop or digital business in the heart of the countryside, we would love to hear from you.

Commissioners are attending events like this to help inform their recommendations.

Although around 9.7m people (17.1%) in the UK live in rural areas according to DEFRA, issues of rural poverty and poor infrastructure have rarely been given the much-needed attention by the Government they deserve.

Co-operatives form a significant part of the rural economy in this country – some of the largest co-operatives are in the agricultural sector with a turnover of over £7bn according to the 2021 Co-op Economy report. With the right support, we could help this sector can grow even more.

That is why we have launched a Rural Commission: bringing together the best ideas for how the co-operative movement can contribute to our rural life.

We also want to encourage members especially in rural areas to put in their submissions

Find out more at  https://party.coop/ruralcommission

If you know of a Co-op and can get us a name to make a direct invitation, let me John Boyle know on j.boyle@party.coop and I will send them one.