Homeworking co-operative sets out on pioneering trail
31 January 2012
A ground-breaking co-operative is aiming to provide training and
support for people who work at home.
Rochdale Homeworkers’ Support Group’s newly
formed Tanzeem Co-operative is believed to be the first of its kind
in the country.
The co-operative, which holds its meetings at
Deeplish Children’s Centre, currently has 21 members. It provides
practical help and advice for residents around the borough who, for
health, family or other reasons, want to work at home, either for
themselves or an employer.
Rochdale Borough Council provided funding for
eight weeks to help the co-operative set up while the council’s
Impact Partnership has donated a laptop computer to help with its
activities.
Tanzeem Mahmood, co-ordinator of the new
co-operative, said:
“We’re very grateful for the help we’ve
received from the council and Impact in getting started.
“With Rochdale being the World Capital of
Co-operatives and 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives,
this is the ideal time and place to be launching our project.
“The nature of home-based work has changed in
recent years with fewer opportunities in areas like sewing but more
for things like home care, interpreting and catering.
“We’re currently looking at ways of getting
funding to provide our members with the training that will enable
them to take advantage of these new openings.”
Councillor Colin Lambert, Leader of Rochdale
Borough Council, said:
“The Tanzeem Cooperative is an excellent
example of how the co-operative principles laid down by the
Rochdale Pioneers in 1844 can be adapted to meet the needs of
residents today.
“In offering help and support to homeworkers
the co-operative is providing an important service to the borough
and we will continue to look at practical ways in which we can help
the organisation.”
ICT Service Delivery Managers Kafiat Ali and
Tricia Clegg presented the laptop to Tanzeem and the group on
behalf of Impact Partnership.
Tricia said:
“We are pleased to have been able to help
group as they take this new and exciting step as a
co-operative.”
Anyone who would like more information about
the Tanzeem Co-operative can contact Tanzeem on 07817556948 or
01706 860157 or email tanzeem@hotmail.co.uk