As a serial social entrepreneur in poverty alleviation and mindset shift, Runa is constantly pioneering new ways of learning, working, and living together. Runa's journey starts with her upbringing and the influential role of her parents in cultivating a lifelong...
In 1997 the Robert Owen Group launched a co-operative school centred initial teacher training project through the Marches Consortium and in partnership with the University of Gloucester. The scheme rapidly grew and became the largest of its type in the United Kingdom , successfully training over 3,700 post graduates who now work in our schools and colleges with many at senior leadership levels. Alongside this we launched a Master’s level programme for trainers in schools and for former trainees and teachers to access as career progression.
It became clear that the absence of an institute of higher education in the Marches sub region posed a real impediment to developing research, seminal thinking and platonic discourse. We often ignore the valuable infrastructure that comes with a quality centre of higher education. The Directors of the Marches Consortium developed a Robert Owen Learning Academy in Leominster and encouraged many ‘hub’ schools to have satellite post graduate libraries for their ‘clusters’.
This is all now background history but our 1998 creation of “query” as a radical journal of left field thinking has now in 2021 led to the addition of this section to the Marches Hive website. We want to stimulate thinking, discussion and the sharing of relevant news and knowledge.
We called the original 1990’s journal query because our minds turned to the creation in the 1870’s of the Tredegar Medical Aid Society which started life as as ‘Health and Education Fund’. In 1920 Walter Conway , Aneurin Bevan and others formed the radical Query Club as a new development. The Club was a cross between a debating society, a mutual support group , a focus for sharing contemporary knowledge and a body set on advancing radical thinking to address the issues of the day. In those times adult education was very much in cells following on the model of the early Methodist house groups.
We believe the challenges of today in many ways mirror those of one hundred years ago and we do encourage everyone’s to engage with query and to share your thoughts, views, knowledge and understanding so that we can all grow together . Thank you
News Articles
Experiencing the co-op difference: Co-operative summer camps
'These students are going to be our future leaders and several of our co-ops want them to come back with an interest in making their community thrive' Summer camps are places of discovery for young people, so it is unsurprising that co-op organisations in North...
Buy Social
What is the campaign about? Choose Communities: Buy Social is all about the impact social enterprises are having on communities across the UK and around the world. It’s about raising the profile of a different way of doing business – one which puts people, communities...
Co-operation in times of crisis: The movement steps up when disaster strikes
From the Lancashire Cotton Famine of the 1860s to the typhoons striking the Philippines in 2021, co-ops have put their principles into action in responding to emergencies “The trees that grow in stormy climates strike the greatest roots,” writes a contributor under...
Atul Adhyapika: An initiative to transform lives of the lesser privileged children by strengthening primary education
Atul Foundation is engaged in serving the society with diverse initiatives in the fields of education, empowerment, health, relief, infrastructure and conservation. It is committed to fostering sustainable socio-economic upliftment, particularly in the lives of the...
This Social Entrepreneur is working with rag pickers and makes fashionable handbags from Plastic Waste
Success Story of Anita Ahuja, Social Entrepreneur and founder of Conserve India Starting a business requires not only investment but also a good business idea. Because of this one idea, a Delhi-based woman entrepreneur started a business and today has a turnover of Rs...
Starry is on a Mission to Provide High-Quality, Affordable Internet That Helps Move Communities Forward
In episode 137 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast I speak with Chaitanya “Chet” Kanojia, co-founder and CEO of Starry Inc, on providing high-quality, affordable internet that helps move communities forward. Listen to more Causeartist podcasts. Chaitanya “Chet”...
Interview: Priya Nahar, Founder of Yash Learning Centre and Differently Abled Social Entrepreneur
About Priya Nahar Priya was born as a normal child and got an severe attack of Polio at the age of 6 years. It made her completely paralysed for 2 years. Because of physical limitations she couldn’t go outside. She decided to do career in academics. Priya started her...
The social entrepreneur supporting gay, bisexual and queer men to live their best lives
The third blog in our 2021 series which spotlights Black social entrepreneurs shaping history through their impactful ventures. This blog has been produced by UnLtd Award Winner Veronica Gordon, founder of Our Version Media CIC – a social...
Helping businesses and communities tackle the climate crisis – Climate Action North
Across the UK 35% of social enterprises have already embedded the urgent need to tackle the climate emergency into their constitution or articles of association. Around a further third plan on doing so, showing a willingness from social enterprises to be held to...
Survey of social enterprise responses to Covid-19
https://vimeo.com/489963120 Social enterprises have shown resilience and agility in response to the severe challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. A new survey conducted across 38 countries finds that two-thirds of social enterprises are running different...