Region/Nation: North West

Why I should be elected to the Women's Representatives Council:

The reason why i would like to stand for the steering group for women is because i work as a support worker for people with mental health issues. Iam passionate about womens rights and also mental health.If selected i will work hard for every women.

Region/Nation: Yorkshire and the Humber

Why I should be elected to the Women's Representatives Council:

Hi I’m Bec Brookes -

Last month, I graduated from Cohort #1 of the Chris Herries Development Programme. As part of my continuing commitment to this and the Co-op Party, I’m standing to serve on the Women’s Network Committee. I want to contribute to the growth of our Women’s Network and work with the party on the continued development and championing of our women members.

My background is as a researcher in stroke and dementia- and I’m now training to be a barrister. But I grew up in an environment where no woman I knew had continued their education beyond the age of 16. It was only due to the political will of a progressive government that I had the opportunity to be something I had never seen.

I know that when the ambitions of women are realised, everyone benefits.  And I know that when the political ambitions of women are realised these benefits have even greater reach. This is why we must increase the participation of women in politics and break down the barriers to women becoming political leaders.

If elected I will:

• Work to harness the talent that exists within the Co-op Women’s Network;

• Work to grow active participation in our campaigns and build a feminist voice in these; and

• Work to develop our direction and strategy in terms of greater inclusion and diversity of voices throughout the party.

Region/Nation: North West

Why I should be elected to the Women's Representatives Council:

I’m Samara Barnes and I am a proud, values driven Councillor.

I work for a national children’s charity where I have vast experience of leading a successful women’s network. Over the past 6 years, I have ensured that I have listened to members to make sure that our work plan covered all of the themes and campaigns that were important to them.

I have implemented connection sessions for those who work remotely, set up a menopause support group,  established a development plan that included growth mindset, mentoring and specialist modules in our leadership program for women, contributed to policy development and ran in person and online events.

I feel really passionate about the power of women’s networks and would love to be able to contribute to the future development of this one. I also have a very intersectional approach to the way I work, so I’d love to work closely with the other networks too. In the words of Audre Lorde, ‘I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own’.

I’m particularly interested in and work on issues such as period poverty, Violence against Women and Girls, Menopause support and women’s representation in politics. I am a fierce campaigner in these areas and have a lot of knowledge that I could bring to the network to develop campaigns or offers of support in these areas.

I have a lot of ideas that I think would benefit our not only the women’s network and party members but our wider communities too.

On a practical level, I am reliable, I have the capacity to give my time to projects in this space and I really want to support the network to be the best that it can be.

Region/Nation: East of England

Why I should be elected to the Women's Representatives Council:

Since the Rochdale Pioneers granted women the vote decades before universal suffrage, Co-operators have led the charge on gender equality. And we must play a central role in shaping the policy agenda of the next Labour government, embedding cooperative values in every policy area.

I earned my stripes as a Campaign Coordinator winning a “safe” Tory ward by eight votes deep in the North Hertfordshire “Blue Wall” – we are now in power with a Labour and Cooperative joint administration, that continues to deliver on cooperative values – and continues to win wards in “safe” Tory areas.

When I stood for parliament, issues arose related to the local football club – Hitchin Town FC. The club itself were tenants of the ground and the landowners wanted to sell the ground for a supermarket. There was uproar in the town, and this was something I was able to provide some measure of leadership on. I spoke at Cooperative Party Conference on the issue highlighting the need for supporter owned football clubs and a “presumption clause” in favour of community facilities in planning laws. My speech received press coverage in the Hitchin newspapers, I joined local demonstrations and was interviewed by local broadcast media as part of the campaign.

I organised a Community Energy Conference in that constituency with a view to influencing Labour’s manifesto for the local elections. I brought in speakers from across the UK – from SERA, from Community Energy initiatives along with Labour & Cooperative council leaders. As a Community Union representative on the NPF, I have been in the room with trade union general secretaries fighting to put workers’ rights at the heart of Labour’s next manifesto. I know how to influence policy and shape Labour’s political agenda in the interests of the Cooperative Party and with cooperative values.

Region/Nation: Scotland

Why I should be elected to the Women's Representatives Council:

I am writing to express my interest in joining the Women’s Steering Committee of the Co-operative Party. As the current Women’s Officer for the Anniesland Constituency Labour Party and the Glasgow Labour Group in Glasgow City Council, I am deeply committed to the advancement of women in our party and in our wider community. This role offers a unique opportunity to extend my dedication to gender equality and cooperative values on a broader scale.

My journey with the Labour Party and my commitment to co-operative principles began as a teenager and reflect a deep-rooted belief in social justice, community empowerment, and gender equity. My role as the Women’s Officer in both capacities has not only honed my leadership skills but has also offered me invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities women face in politics. I have actively worked towards creating platforms for women’s voices, ensuring their representation in decision-making processes, and advocating for policies that address gender-specific issues.

Joining the Women’s Steering Committee aligns with my personal and professional mission to advance the role of women in our party and society. I am eager to bring my experience, energy, and ideas to the group, contributing to its vital work in shaping policies and strategies that elevate the status and participation of women in our political discourse. I am particularly interested in creating fairness in opportunities and access to wellbeing, and I believe my background equips me well to contribute meaningfully in this area.

I am inspired by the Co-operative Party’s dedication to fairness, equality, and social justice. If given the opportunity, I am keen to contribute my skills and experiences to enhance the impact of the Women’s Steering Group. I am excited about the prospect of working alongside like-minded individuals who are equally passionate about making a difference in the lives of women across the UK.

Region/Nation: North East

Why I should be elected to the Women's Representatives Council:

I believe my political experience and life skills would bring benefit to the Women’s Network. From personal experience, I am a mother four girls, all different. I understand the need for women to be safe in an equal society, whatever the gender. They are strong women, doing well and I take credit for that.

My political experience started as a councillor for Durham City then Durham County Council, eventually a Cabinet member for Libraries, Leisure and Lifelong Learning. Understanding women’s place in training and work was part of Lifelong Learning but I also understand the needs of men in the workplace, especially in training to join the workplace. I am now retired but I am a volunteer on the PCC scrutiny board for hate crime. I believe in an equal society for all. I have been chair of Durham Labour women until boundaries changed and now have been elected as Women’s officer in my new constituency. I have requested training and mentorship to enhance the role and this is being arranged. I am also a veteran campaigner. I hope this explains my request to be nominated and would very much like to take on this role.

Region/Nation: North West

Why I should be elected to the Women's Representatives Council:

I was elected to the newly formed Cumberland Unitary Authority in May 2022, and to Cockermouth Town Council in May 2023.  I recently graduated from the inaugural Chris Herries Development Programme, run in co-operation with Labour Women's Network.

We need more women in leadership and public service roles.  To get more women running for office, women need role models.  I decided to stand for office as councillor because, at the time, only 20% of our councillors were women, yet the population of Cumbria was almost exactly a 50:50 male/female split.  I believe we must be the change that we want to see in our communities, and we cannot simply leave it to others.

To encourage more women to stand for office, in whatever capacity, we must encourage and nurture our fellow female co-operators.  We must work collaboratively to develop existing systems and form new networks to help our co-operator sisters to learn new skills, to develop policy, and to work to increase the number of women co-operators selected and elected.  We must work to create an active Women’s Network that is prominent in all regions of the country and is accessible to all.  If elected, this is what I will strive to do.

Region/Nation: North West

Why I should be elected to the Women's Representatives Council:

I’d like to nominate myself as an ideal candidate for the Co-operative Party Women’s Network Steering Committee because I believe as a young, bisexual woman from a low income background outside London, I have the necessary life experiences and characteristics needed to represent as many women in our party as possible and advocate for their needs as both individual strong women & Party members. I’ve been a Party member for almost 3 years, have attended multiple training events & as an active member in my branch and constituency Party, regularly championing the opportunities open to encouraging female success. I would fully dedicate myself to working hard and making valuable improvements to the political experience of women in our Party.