Co-operative Social Care Workshop

An ageing population and a squeeze on Local Authority budgets challenge us all to find new ways to provide care and support for older people.
Private commercial provision is not the only alternative. Co-operatives have a long tradition in Wales and we can now develop a co-operative model for social care. Service users, service providers and local community stakeholders could all be members in a Social Co-operative. This is a model for the provision of social services which is well established in other parts of the world including Quebec and Italy. It provides the affordable quality services people need whilst also protecting workers and community interests.
International expert John Restakis (past Executive Director, British Columbia Co-operative Association) will be discussing the National Co-op Elder Care Project being developed with support from the Canadian Federal Government and using a social franchising model. Also, come to learn about work being undertaken in Newport to establish the first UK social care co-operative.
It may help participants to better understand this model of enterprise if they check out the member-controlled Enterprise website at: http://s.coop/1bcyi

Numbers are limited and attendance will be confirmed before 25 June to help secure a balanced audience. Please register your interest at http://progressive-cooperators.org.uk/event-reservation
Participants are strongly recommended to read evidence presented to the Welsh Co-operative and Mutuals Commission. You can read this and other documents on the website, and comment on them there. The comments or questions thereby made can be made known in advance to the organisers.
http://progressive-cooperators.org.uk/event-reservation/papers-for-1st-july
A workshop report can be made available for £15.
For further information email: David_smith45@tiscali.co.uk or telephone (01633) 266781.