These are recordings and resources from our session on community anchors. This session was facilitated by Simon Borkin (Stretford Public Hall) & Jonny Gordon-Farleigh (Stir to Action)

This session was inspired by Stir to Action's recent work linked to their Community Anchors Project which was commissioned by Preston City Council last year to deliver a groundbreaking new programme as part of its Community Wealth Building programme. In particular, the project targeted support for black and minoritised community organisations in the city, stimulating cultural awareness and interest in co-operatives and community enterprises.

Break Out Room 1 focussed on communicating with co-ops and community businesses for diverse audiences. Neetal Parekh discussed the need to make your objectives clear, how to reach out and help develop the confidence in a diverse community and how reaching out to faith centres and encouraging upskilling can better participation from minoritsed communities.

Watch a recording of break out room 1 here.

In break out room 2 Dorothy Francis shared her experiences of developing co-ops in minoritised communities. Dorothy asked the group if they were willing to do the work that it takes to achieve real equality in the co-operative movement and discussed her own lived experience of racism within a professional setting. The group discussed a range of issues on the topic including informal credit schemes and questioned if formalising co-ops kills the spirit of the movement.

Watch a recording of break out room 2 here.

In break out room 3 Shaunna Rushton, a co-organiser with Cooperation Town discussed the creation of a co-op food scheme on her own street in Walthamstow-starting in her living room and growing to the need for a shipping container. With input from Zul Hussain (Fishwick Rangers) & Rachel Stringfellow (Preston City Council) the group shared a range of collective knowledge of creating food co-ops, from upskilling community members, asking what happens post Covid and saying no to governance structures.

Watch a recording of break out room 3 here.

You can also watch a recording of the end of the session when all participants returned to the main room to summarise all of the discussions here.

Just some of the organisations mentioned by participants in this call are as follows-

https://foodplymouth.org

https://opencollective.com

https://mycommunity.org.uk

https://cooperation.town

https://twitter.com/fishwickrangers?lang=en

http://www.bordersmachineryring.co.uk

https://scottishmachineryrings.co.uk

http://www.machineryrings.org.uk

https://case.coop