MP SHOWS SUPPORT FOR CO-OPERATIVES FORTNIGHT AT THE GLOBE

Chi Onwurah MP will be visiting the Jazz Co-op to show her support for this year’s Co-operatives Fortnight campaign (21 June to 5 July 2014)  at The Globe, 11 Railway Street, Newcastle, NE4  7AD.
1.30pm, Saturday 21 June 2014.

The Jazz Co-op supports jazz, poetry, dance and related arts in the city. It has recently been successful in raising funds through community shares to buy The Globe, a pub on the western edge of the city centre. It is currently refurbishing The Globe to create the UK’s first co-operatively-owned music venue and jazz education centre. Some 200 people have invested in this unique venture.

Co-operatives Fortnight is the co-operative movement’s annual awareness campaign, aiming to help people become more familiar with co-operatives in their local area and beyond.

Co-operative businesses aren’t just the food stores, pharmacies and funeral care services that most people are used to seeing on the high street. The sector is truly diverse covering everything from bakeries to bicycle stores, childcare providers to cheese producers and farms to football clubs.

Chi Onwurah MP said: “There are 15 million memberships of co-ops in the UK and this figure continues to grow. The potential for social innovation offered by the co-operative model both nationally and here Newcastle cannot be overlooked.

It’s been a privilege to visit the Jazz Co-op at the Globe and find out why the co-operative model works for them. As cities such as Newcastle develop economically, local people are finding innovative ways to make sure artistic and cultural scenes thrive as well, and it’s fantastic to see an example of this here.”

Dave Parker, Co-Chair of the Jazz Co-op, said: “Running a venue is notoriously difficult but we think that the Globe will be a success because it is owned by a co-op that’s dedicated to music. This would be a unique addition to the Newcastle music scene, where venues tend to open and close frequently. Our 200 members are investing their money, time and enthusiasm into ensuring it works.”

Co-operatives work to a unique business model, they are owned by their members, not shareholders, and give them a chance to have a say in how the business is run, as well as a share of the benefits.

Co-operatives Fortnight runs from 21 June to 5 July 2014. For more information on the campaign please visit www.uk.coop/choosecoop or download the ‘Co-operate’ app to find other co-operative businesses.