I have just returned from a weekend in Plymouth where the weather was beautiful. This year the Plymouth Co-operative Society celebrates its 150th Anniversary as a co-operative. In honour of this anniversary Co-operatives UK held their annual conference and AGM as part of the newly launched Co-operatives Fortnight (19th June to 3rd July) in the Pavilions with around 500 attendees.

I was joined in Plymouth by Sally Reith our Supporter Relations Officer for the South. Prior to the event Co-ops UK had asked investors and customers of their members to nominate those organisations who had shown exceptional diversity, innovation and excellence and six awards were to be presented at the Gala Dinner on Saturday evening.

One of our long term investors and previous Council Member, Roger Sawtell, nominated Shared Interest and we were delighted to be selected as one of the six to receive the award from almost 60 applications. The awards, which were all specially made by a ceramic co-operative, were presented by David Button, Chair of Co-operatives UK who congratulated us by saying “we had shown how co-operation could tackle some of the world big issues”

The photograph shows Sally and me with Ed Mayo, head of Co-ops UK who is also a member of Shared Interest and a keen fair trade supporter having served on the board of the Fairtrade Foundation.

What a fantastic way to celebrate our 20th Anniversary and all our members should be proud that their support for Shared Interest has enabled us to carry on our work with disadvantaged fair trade producers and achieve this national recognition.

Ed Mayo, head of Co-ops UK, is a member of Shared Interest and a keen supporter of fair trade.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation