Learning about co-operation

The basics: where co-operation came from, the principles co-ops share, and where the movement stands now.

• The Co-operative Movement: Beginnings Start here
  How the modern co-operative movement started.
• The Rochdale Principles Start here
  The founding principles of the Rochdale Pioneers and why they still matter.
• Co-operative Milestones, 1769 to 2000 Start here
  A timeline of key moments in co-operative history.
• Co-operative Milestones (2021 notes) Start here
  Study notes on turning points in the movement.
• Co-op Identity: a timeline Start here
  How the co-operative identity and principles developed over time.
• Worker Co-ops Learning Resource Start here
  A learning resource on worker co-operatives.
• The Co-operative Movement Today Start here
  An overview of the movement in the present day.
• The Co-operative Movement: study notes (2019) Deeper
  Principle 5 study group notes.
• The Co-operative Movement (2021) Deeper
  Study group notes on the movement.
• The Co-operative Movement (2022) Deeper
  Study group notes on the movement.

To discuss: What makes a co-op different from other businesses? Which of the Rochdale Principles feels most relevant today, and why?

How co-operatives organised, traded, federated and educated their members, and the challenges they faced.

• More Than Just a Shop (with notes) Start here
  What co-operative societies offered their members beyond retail.
• Vertical Integration Deeper
  How co-operatives came to control production as well as retail.
• Producer Co-operatives Deeper
  The history and role of producer co-operatives.
• Building Co-operation Deeper
  Notes on building co-operation.
• The Forward March of Co-operation Halted Deeper
  On the decline of the co-operative movement.
• Independent Co-operative Commissions Deeper
  The commissions set up to review the state of the movement.
• CRTG: Co-operative Retail Trading Group Deeper
  How independent societies bought collectively, and what replaced CRTG.
• CWS (2024) Deeper
  Notes on the Co-operative Wholesale Society.
• Long Millgate’s History Deeper
  The history of the movement’s Manchester home at Long Millgate.
• Co-operative Congress 2021 Deeper
  Notes from Co-operative Congress 2021.
• The Origins of Co-operative Education Deeper
  How co-operative education began.
• The Story of the Co-operative College Start here
  A history of the Co-operative College.
• What is the Co-operative Heritage Trust? Start here
  An introduction to the Co-operative Heritage Trust.
• The Co-operative Heritage Trust (Co-op News) Start here
  A Co-op News article on the Trust.
• Co-operative Press (2020) Deeper
  Notes on the Co-operative Press.
• Co-op Press Deeper
  Further notes on the Co-operative Press.

To discuss: Why did co-operatives join together in wholesale and federal bodies? What can today’s co-ops learn from the movement’s decline?

Co-operation, education and radical politics in Sheffield, from the Chartists to community development in the 1980s.

• Early Co-operatives in Sheffield Start here
  The first co-operative ventures in the city.
• Sheffield Co-operative Societies: a history Start here
  The story of Sheffield’s co-operative societies.
• Sheffield: some historical notes Start here
  Background notes on Sheffield’s history.
• Chartist Rebellion in Sheffield Deeper
  Sheffield’s part in the Chartist movement.
• Sheffield Hall of Science Deeper
  The Owenite Hall of Science on Rockingham Street.
• Castle House Deeper
  The history of Castle House.
• Bridgehouses Deeper
  Notes on Bridgehouses.
• Six Years of Labour Rule in Sheffield Deeper
  Sheffield’s early Labour council.
• Sheffield Co-operator article (2018) Deeper
  An article written for the Sheffield Co-operator.
• Sheffield Co-operator article (2018 edition) Deeper
  An article written for the Sheffield Co-operator.
• Sheffield Film Co-op Deeper
  The story of the Sheffield Film Co-op.
• Sheffield Educational Settlement: papers listing Research
  A listing of the Educational Settlement papers.
• Co-operative Development Agency Research
  Material on the Co-operative Development Agency.
• SCDG in Co-operative News (1990) Research
  Coverage of the Sheffield Co-operative Development Group.
• SCDG Leaflet Research
  A leaflet from the Sheffield Co-operative Development Group.
• Bill Jordan Archive Research
  A guide to the Bill Jordan papers.

To discuss: Which places in Sheffield still carry traces of this history? How did education and co-operation go hand in hand in the city?

The ideas behind co-operation and its links with socialism, Labour and the Co-operative Party.

• The Co-operative Party Start here
  An introduction to the Co-operative Party.
• Co-op Party Set to Become Independent Deeper
  On the Co-operative Party’s relationship with Labour.
• Co-operation v Charity Start here
  Why self-help differs from charity.
• Charity v Socialism Deeper
  Further notes on charity and socialism.
• Clement Attlee: Charity or Socialism Deeper
  Attlee on charity and socialism.
• The Family Circle Deeper
  How the 1945 Labour Government communicated its aim of ending poverty.
• Arthur Greenwood MP: From Capitalism to Co-operative Commonwealth Deeper
  Greenwood’s case for a co-operative commonwealth.
• Robert Blatchford, The Clarion and Socialism Deeper
  Blatchford and the Clarion movement.
• The ILP Past and Present Deeper
  The Independent Labour Party.
• The Manifesto of the Socialist League Deeper
  The Socialist League’s manifesto.
• A. Honora Enfield: notes Deeper
  Notes on the Women’s Co-operative Guild leader.
• Note on the Co-operative Women’s Guild Start here
  The Guild and its campaigns.
• Caring & Sharing Deeper
  Notes on caring and sharing.
• Priestley Deeper
  Notes on Priestley.

To discuss: Is co-operation a form of socialism, an alternative to it, or neither? Why did co-operators reject charity?

How co-operative ideas apply to energy, technology, climate and a new generation.

• Community Energy Start here
  Co-operative approaches to community energy.
• Community Energy Conference Deeper
  Notes from a community energy conference.
• Co-operating with New Technology Deeper
  Co-operation and new technology.
• Extinction or Rebellion Deeper
  Co-operation and the climate crisis.
• Central Comrades Circle Deeper
  Co-operative youth organisation.
• Towards Common Ownership Deeper
  The case for common ownership.

To discuss: Where could co-operation make the biggest difference in the next ten years? What would bring young people into the movement?

Notes from Principle 5 study sessions, reading suggestions and research.

• Principle 5 Study Group, May 2020 Start here
  Notes from a study group session.
• HacktionLab 2022 Deeper
  Material from HacktionLab 2022.
• Book list Start here
  Suggested further reading.
• Co-operative Culture essays (sheffield.coop) Deeper
  A series of essays about the co-operative movement.
• AGM Research Presentation (John Carlisle) Research
  Research presented at the Principle 5 AGM.
• Journal of Co-operative Studies article (2021, vol. 54 no. 4) Research
  Research article by Christopher Olewicz.
• Journal article, author accepted version (2024) Research
  Research article by Christopher Olewicz.