About Principle 5
The Yorkshire Co-operative Resource Centre is an accessible co-operative learning and information resource for all: a lending library, an archive, and a place to meet, study and talk about co-operation.
Hear from Steve (video, 4 minutes)
A message from our founder
In response to the death of co-operative education and awareness, I set up Principle 5 Yorkshire Co-operative Resource Centre, which was incorporated as a co-operative and a company limited by guarantee in 2014. Principle 5 provides a facility for members to develop ideas about co-operation: how the Movement evolved, its potential to transform society for the better, and how co-operatives are changing the world.
The lending library is full of books which tell stories of the successes and failures of co-operatives, practical information for people involved in co-ops, and research materials for social historians. The Centre is a friendly and accessible place where members can learn more about the Co-operative Movement.
Principle 5 is based at Aizlewood’s Mill, Sheffield, a co-operatively owned building and home of the Sheffield Co-operative Development Group. The Centre is open for members to use by appointment, and is funded by subscriptions. Please consider joining us.
Aside from protecting the materials in the archive and making them available for members, the resource centre provides a focus for co-operative education and culture through talks, discussions, film screenings, social events, visits to other co-operative venues and study groups. It is proactive in helping to cultivate co-operative community, and working with other organisations with compatible aims. Let us know when you would like to visit and I’ll get the kettle on.
Steve Thompson, Founder
What we do
- A lending library
- A co-operative archive
- A co-operative information resource
- Talks, study groups, visits and film screenings
- Engagement with other co-operatives and libraries
- Co-operative News, current and back issues, always available for readers
Purposes and aims
- Protect and safeguard the books, publications, archival materials and resources placed in trust for the co-operative movement and future generations
- Make these available to all members
- Provide a focus for co-operative education and culture
- Support the development of co-operative education and culture
- Work co-operatively with organisations and individuals with compatible aims
- Seek support from the wider co-operative movement
- Be as true as possible to the ICA Statement of Co-operative Identity
Our rules
- Purposes and Aims (PDF)
- Memorandum and Articles (PDF)
- ICA Statement of Co-operative Identity (PDF)
AGM papers, reports and accounts are on our Reports and AGM page.
Our home: Aizlewood’s Mill
Our resource centre and lending library is housed within Aizlewood’s Mill, a former derelict corn mill in Sheffield which was transformed into a workspace by the Sheffield Co-operative Development Group (SCDG). Further reading about this co-operative development:
The Principle 5 team
- Steve Thompson, Founder. Library, membership
- Dr Chris Olewicz*, Publications, writing, research, students and universities
- Dave Berry*, Education, sustainability
- Nick Edmondson*, Social history, education, community
- Janette Hurst*, Library
- Robert Smith*, Research
- Jonathan Cook, Team support
* Directors. To get involved, email steve@sheffield.coop.
Part of the co-operative family
Principle 5 is a member of the organisations below and subscribes to Stir to Action. Our own members include Our Co-op, the Co-operative College, the UK Society for Co-operative Studies, Independent Labour Publications and Footprints Workers Co-operative.
