Worker Co-op Weekend 2026

Taking place again at Thornbridge outdoors near Sheffield, join worker co-operators from across the movement for a 2 day programme built around collaboration, shared learning and reimagining the future of worker co-operation. Kicking off from 5pm on Friday 5th June, we have aceess to the beautiful site until 5pm on Sunday 7th June.

We expect the programme to include opportunity for business networking, peer learning, regional and sector meet-ups, alongside open space and the chance for co-op development advisors to connect.

You will be able to learn about the UK federation of worker co-ops and hear where the federation is at, meet new members, and connect with members from the five forming worker co-ops on the new accelerator programme, Own The Future.

We expect sessions on the history and future of the worker co-op movement, international solidarity, and how worker co-ops connect with wider social, environmental and political movements. For Own The Future participants, there’ll be additional sessions.

There will be time for relaxing, with movement-based activities, music and campfires, and opportunities to explore the site’s beautiful natural setting or go wild swimming.

We’ll be building on what we’ve done to make the Worker Co-op Weekend accessible, we expect bursaries, there will be childcare, and we hope another minibus service. Get in touch if you can help out with driving.

We are hosting a cooperators cake sale during Worker Co-op Weekend! Please bring a cake, bake or sweet treat for the stall to ensure a supply of cake for the whole weekend! 

 

Programme

This year's theme, in connection with our Own the Future new co-op accelerator programme, is 'early-career' co-operation.

The programme for WCW is principle six in action! We invite workers.coop members and supporters to participate in programming the days with suggestions for themes, peer-learning, workshops.

To help focus ideas for sessions, workers.coop is proposing session streams organised around our strategic groups - Movement Building and Co-op Support and Development, as well as setting aside time for the new Own The Future accelerator content and CoTech members.

We have a budget to pay for any materials but not for commissioning speakers or external guests, this event is by us and for us and we've priced tickets as low as possible to cover costs. We encourage you to put forward the sessions that you would like to share with the movement. Please submit a session here. 

The programme is member-created, with individuals and worker co-ops proposing and running sessions. Anyone can propose a session. In the past these have ranged from workshops, formal learning, networking, training, icebreakers, activities, music, games. 

Ideas are welcome on any topic, whether practical learning, improving the performance of your worker co-op, or political education.

Submit a programme session here. Thank you for the suggestions so far!

 

Tickets

Event tickets for those also booking accommodation for adults (18+) cost £75 for non-members and £65 for members incl. VAT. Kids event tickets are a flat price £30 (4+) incl. VAT. Event tickets for those staying off site are £100 for non-members (incl. VAT) and £90 for members (incl. VAT).

You can book a day only ticket for Saturday. The day ticket doesn't include accommodation and only includes catering on Saturday.

The ticket comes with a one hour commitment to pitch in during the event. There will be a sign-up sheet at the welcome tent to take on a task.

Accommodation is priced separately depending on options. 

 

Accommodation options

There are a range of accommodation options. Prices are shown as inclusive of VAT.

• Camping (per adult) - £30
• Campervans (per adult) - £30
• Bell tent (per tent, sleeps 5) - £120
• Bed in shared dorm (per adult) - £100
• Private dorm room (per room, sleeps 3) - £240
• Family dorm room (per room, sleeps 5) - £150

There are mixed dorms and gender-specific dorms, we have booked the Farmhouse and Lodge.

Camping is around the Bell tents/teepees, you can read more about camping facilities here.

If sharing a bell tent, private or family dorm room with others, only one person needs to book and pay for that room.

 

Bursaries

There are around 15 bursary spaces, with bursaries ranging from covering ticket only to the maximum amount (£65 - £200), depending on need. All bursary options include meals. We can't guarantee that everyone who applies for a busary will get one but will prioritise according to need as best we can. The deadline to apply for bursaries is 15 May.

Bursaries are prioritised around the following factors:

• Early career co-operators / new and emerging co-ops
• Co-operator without a secure or regular source of income
• Co-operator in low-pay sector
• Co-operator with circumstances that impact financial stability (dependents, disability, migration status)
• Migrant co-operator/worker

Bursary application form (deadline to apply May 22).

Thanks to the generous support of Solidfund for funding the bursary spaces.

Under 30 co-operators

If you are aged 30 or under, Young Cooperators Network offer free travel bursaries. These are for anyone attending an event that's part of the co-operative movement, including Worker Co-op Weekend. We encourage those who are eligible to apply here. 

 

Kids

There will be childcare during Worker Co-op Weekend for children aged 4-12. To bring along children aged 4-18 please book a kids ticket. Children 3 and under don't need any ticket.

The childcare provision will cover the main programme sessions (i.e. parents are responsible during breaks/meal times). 

There will be a kid's programme similar to last year with group activities and games. 

We are working with professional childcare organisers to make sure that we have everything we need in place. The organisers will be in touch with parents ahead of the Weekend. 

There are different accommodation options for your kids, such as camping, booking a family teepee, or booking a family dorm room that you can also share with others. 

Please contact solidarity[at]workers.coop with any questions about childcare or bringing along your kids.

 

Food and drink

Food will all be vegan (shout out to Veggies who will be doing the catering!). Please email us in the case of any allergies.

Veggies will need helpers so be on hand around mealtimes to help with food prep and clear-up!

For kids, Veggies are doing a littler/simpler version of the adult meal for kids, that will be vegan. If your child needs something different, there’s space to store and prepare food in the kitchens on-site.

We will confirm the bar offering soon, or you can BYOB.

 

Bedding

Campers need to bring their own tent and bedding. Teepees need to bring their own bedding. Dorms have bedding. Towels aren’t provided. The site doesn’t have spare bedding so don’t forget them - it can still get quite cold at night.

 

Accessibility and disability

Please let us know when you register about any accessibility requirements.

Most of the site is wheelchair accessible. There is a step to one of the meeting rooms although ramps may be provided (we will confirm).

Detailed information about the site accessibility can be found here.

There is indoor dorm accommodation set aside for those with access needs, please email for more information.

We will have buddies for newcomers, those who are new to this event or who would feel more comfortable knowing that there is an allocated person they can call on or go to throughout the weekend. Details will be shared about buddies at the welcome tent, or get in touch beforehand for more information - we want to make this event as accessible as possible, so please get in touch if there's anything we can do to welcome everyone.

 

Getting there

By public transport the nearest train station is Grindleford (7 miles away), on the Sheffield to Manchester line. Or Matlock station (11 miles), from which there is a bus that takes you half way (Transpeak bus) followed by a 30 minute walk.

Local taxis are available but due to the rural location it’s necessary to book in advance as the wait can be long, even if booking an Uber.

Bike - there will be a group cycling together to the venue on Friday from Sheffield, get in touch to be connected to them.

For those coming by car, there is an off-site car park we will direct you to upon arrival.

Minibus from London and back organised by our member Sion Whellens - thank you Sion! You can reserve a seat when you book your ticket. Tickets are £20, and sales will help us fund a similar offer from Scotland. If you are applying for a bursary to cover your transport costs and are London based, free spaces on the bus may be available.
Minibus Pickup and dropoff: 26 Victoria Park Square, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PG (close to Bethnal Green underground - red pin on the map below).
Depart: 12.00 on Friday 5th June (please be there at 11.45) - ride time approx 4 hours including a rest stop.
Return: 16.00 (tbc) on Sunday 7th June, arrive approx 20.00

Help organise Worker Co-op Weekend 

Events group - if you'd like to help shape and deliver the Worker Co-op Weekend, come along to the next organising meeting workers.coop/events. 

Volunteers during weekend - looking for a group of 6 dedicated volunteers to help with tasks (set up, pack down, general support, also facilitation and photography). If you can commit to a few hours during the event, sign up here.

And as always, pitch in during the event – in the DIY spirit of the Worker Co-op Weekend, all attendees are asked pitch in an hour of help, mostly around meal times, with a sign-up sheet at the welcome tent.

 

 

Thanks for the generous support of DotCooperation towards this event. .coop is the Internet domain for co-ops around the globe. Join the online home of cooperatives with the .coop and .creditunion domain names. You will be able to find out more about a .coop domain name at the Worker Co-op Weekend.

Thanks also to Suma Wholefoods and Leading Lives for their sponsorship for the event.