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Fri 25 Oct 2019 1:40PM

Barefoot Co-op Development training - expressions of interest for 6 day training programme

NBC Nathan Brown (Co-op Culture) Public Seen by 108

Following a pilot to explore the interest in worker co-operators providing advice to other worker co-ops or people starting co-ops, we have created a training programme. If you are interested in participating please fill in the expression of interest form (see first message below for more details and the link)

NBC

Nathan Brown (Co-op Culture) Fri 25 Oct 2019 1:41PM

The Barefoot Co-op Development training programme will run from April 2020 to October 2020 and will consist of an online induction session, 6 day-long face to face sessions delivered monthly, and an online exit session.

We are working hard with strategic partners on bids for funding as our aim is for the training programme itself to be free.

We are also working with the Co-op College in the hope of awarding a Chartered Management Institute qualification for successful completion of the programme and relevant coursework.

The content of the face to face sessions will look something like this:

Session 1 – Introduction to co-operative development
Session 2 – Structures and governance
Session 3 – Marketing for co-operatives
Session 4 - Finance
Session 5 – Co-operative ways of working
Session 6 – Bringing it all together - the business plan

You can see more details about each session here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I06Os-AWDo6Wd0hc2x03N9bnO6nWR4_PIjQcnL2Mjho/edit?usp=sharing
If you would be interested in participating in the 6 day training programme, then please register your interest using this form: https://forms.gle/33N7gk32Y3ZkeXW76
Cheers!

JA

John Atherton Fri 25 Oct 2019 2:19PM

This is great, glad the initial funding from Solidfund and session was able to help draw in additional funds. So although not quite to plan feels like its heading in a good direction!

NBC

Nathan Brown (Co-op Culture) Mon 28 Oct 2019 11:44AM

There has also been a massive investment from Co-op Culture. Funds not yet secured.

AM

Antony McMullen Sat 26 Oct 2019 3:12AM

Would be great to run something like this in Australia

NBC

Nathan Brown (Co-op Culture) Mon 28 Oct 2019 11:43AM

Hi Antony. I think if you could get sufficient interest from existing worker co-ops there is no reason why you couldn't. Building that solidarity is probably the first step. We'd be happy to share our approach with you, although some elements would need to be tailored to Australian laws, history of how the movement has grown and/or cultural conditions. If you can establish a cohort of activists to be your barefoot developers and bring in some "experts" to share the trade secrets, there's your programme.