About the event
The UK federation of worker co-ops supports local meetups in towns and cities across the UK, bringing together those locally involved in worker-owned businesses.
Whether you're part of a worker co-op, you are a supporter of worker ownership and non-hierarchical, radical businesses, or you are just curious, everyone is welcome.
The plan
For the next Sheffield local co-op meetup, we are hosting an afternoon of informal visits to local worker and community co-operatives in the city, including Lembas, Beanies and Principle 5!
Come to find out more about worker-owned businesses, wholefood and food-based co-ops, and the history of co-operation in Sheffield.
At the end of the afternoon we're hosting a social meetup at the Gardeners' Rest riverside pub at 6pm. If you can't make the daytime visits, come along after work to the social to say hello! No need to register if you are dropping by to the social.
More info:
Meeting at 1pm at Sheffield Train Station, or 1.30/1.45pm at Lembas, the plan is to travel together in a car with five seats available and (if there's many of us) a second vehicle to visit three co-ops before finishing at the Gardeners' Rest for 5/6pm. If you would like to join and have accessibility requirements, get in touch. The vehicle does fit a wheelchair. If you drive and are happy to be a second driver please let us know! You're also welcome to travel independently or by bike, and meet us along the way at any of the stops. If you need a lift from the train station earlier on, get in touch.
Please register, so we can plan transport and numbers!
Meeting point
1pm - Sheffield train station - outside if the weather is good, if not inside of the train station in front of Forge Bakehouse stall.
Around 1.30/1.45pm - Outside Lembas, Unit 5, The Old Tannery, Whiting St, Meersbrook, Sheffield S8 9QR.
Visits
Lembas (around 1.45pm)
A vegan/veggie wholefood wholesaler that is a workers co-op.
Address: Unit 5, The Old Tannery, Whiting St, Meersbrook, Sheffield S8 9QR.
Beanies (around 3pm)
An organic greengrocer that is also a workers co-op. They sell produce and goods so you can purchase a snack on the way.
Address: 1 Barber Rd, Sheffield S10 1EA
Principle Five (around 4.30pm)
Did you know that Sheffield has its very own co-operative resource centre with archival content and resources you can browse? Principle Five is a co-operatively owned building with educational and research resources that is open to everyone! It is also home to the Sheffield Co-operative Development Group.
We will stop by for a brief visit to the building and resources and a look around.
Principle Five is around the corner from the final stop, so if you want to head early to the Gardeners Rest you can meet us there!
The Gardeners' Rest (5/6pm - we will officially be there at 6pm but likely to get there earlier after the tour)
A community-owned pub and music venue next to the river.
We have booked an upstairs meeting room for 5/6pm in the name of 'Sam or Chris'.
Accessibility: there is no lift access upstairs, so if you have accessibility requirements please let us know and we will relocate the meeting space to downstairs!
A note on food- the pub doesn't serve food but has bar snacks, there's plenty of food nearby though including a Kurdish restaurant.
You are also welcome to organise a visit to Regather co-op farm in Moss Valley
Regather co-operative run an organic farm in the Moss Valley where they grow vegetables and sell veg boxes as part of their business.
We have been in touch with them and they are open to a group visit in exchange for a fee or some work (helping them compost most likely!). This would take place at a time you arrange with them and is suitable for a group. You can contact them directly to organise this.