an auxiliary of the Co-operative Movement

ANNUAL REPORT

2011

supported by Co-operative Societies nationwide

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CONTENTS

Page(s)

Front Cover 1

Contents 2

National Executive Members 3

National Executive Committee Report 4, 5

Guild Membership 6

Finance Report 7

Guild Accounts to 31 December 2011 8

Acknowledgements 9

Congress 2011 10, 11

Representatives 12

Guild Remembrance 13

Mrs. Ben Jones Guild Convalescent Fund Report 14

Mrs. Ben Jones Accounts to 31 December 2011 15

Head Office 16

Annual Report as 31 December 2011

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NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President Lyn Longbottom Yorkshire Region

Vice President Margaret Tillotson South East Region

Valerie Moran Mid-Southern Region

Beryl Ward* Mid-Southern Region

Pauline Lintern North East Devon Region

Pat Stuttard North East Midland Region

Edna Mason Northern Region

Kath Hopley* North West Region

Sheila Nield North West Region

Edna Marshall South Midland Region

Vacancy South Western Region

NATIONAL HONORARY TREASURER

Christine Hay

GENERAL SECRETARY/MEMBERSHIP OFFICER

Colette Harber

* Term of office ended at the conclusion of Congress 2011

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NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

The National Executive Committee (the NEC) continued to meetat Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London, throughout 2011.Meetings were held in January, March, July, September andNovember in London. Two meetings were held in May inChesterfield; one on the Monday, before Congress commencedand the other, following the conclusion of Congress.

At its January meeting, the NEC was, at its request, presentedwith a draft three-year Membership Strategy paper, written bythe General Secretary. Given the stage at which the Guild hadfound itself, as clearly outlined by Pat Stuttard in her inauguralNational President’s speech at Congress 2010; the Membership

Strategy was seen as an integral part of the Guild’s obligations, primarily to itself to stop itbecoming isolated and inward-looking, and, secondly, to those Co-operative Societies whichprovide the funding for the Guild to function at all levels.

Additionally and due to the Guild’s recent setback, the NEC introduced an annual appraisalfor the position for General Secretary/Membership Officer. At its meeting in November 2010,the NEC privately discussed the contract and performance of the General Secretary andoffered her a further year’s contract. Prior to the Guild’s Annual Congress in May 2011, theNational President, National Vice-President and the Honorary Treasurer undertook theGeneral Secretary’s appraisal; the outcome of which was pleasing to both the NEC and theGeneral Secretary.

The Guild has been represented throughout the year at many events, up and down thecountry. The NEC’s thanks are given to all who participated in the following events:

• the 100th International Women’s Day events around the country• Co-operatives UK Congress, in Birmingham• the Co-operative Party Conference, in London• the Co-operative Group’s 20/20 Challenge Conference, in Leeds• National Council of Women’s Conference, in Nottingham• the Co-operative Group’s Half-Yearly Meeting and National Values & Principles

Conference, in Manchester• the Independent Co-operative Society events and meetings• the various Fairtrade activities and charitable events undertaken by Guild branches

Over the past eighteen months, the Guild has renewed its campaigning role.

Following the agreement at Congress 2010, the Guild put forward a resolution to HerMajesty’s Government to nationally reassess what constitutes ‘Care in the Community’ ,especially for the elderly wishing to remain in their own home whilst also providing regularmedical and social assessments which would capture those at risk.

Since then, many branches have contacted their MP’s and received responses; this campaigncontinues.

With the abolition of the Women’s National Commission in November 2010, the NEC affiliatedthe Guild to the National Council of Women in July 2011, so that campaign issues could beshared.

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One particular issue was the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill which hascome under scrutiny and has been recently debated in Parliament. The NEC is concernedabout the number of women who appear to be unnecessarily sent to prison and the failure ofthe Government and the Prison Service to help reduce women’s offending. Therefore, inline with the National Council of Women, the NEC has sent letters, on behalf of the Guild, tothe Prime Minister; to the Secretary of State for Justice and to the Leader of the Opposition,asking for an amendment to this Bill.

During the year, the Guild made contact with the Scottish Co-operative Women’s Guild andintends to improve the relationship with Guildswomen in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In late October 2012, the NEC fully intends that the Guild will be represented at theexposition for the United Nations Year of Co-operatives 2012 being held over three days inManchester.

At the end of Congress 2011, two members had come to the end of their term of office on theNational Executive Committee. In bidding farewell to Kath Hopley, North West Region, andBeryl Ward, Mid-Southern Region; the NEC welcomed Valerie Moran, Mid-Southern Region andSheila Nield, North West Region.

Lyn LongbottomNational President, written on behalf of the National Executive Committee

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GUILD MEMBERSHIP as at 31 December 2011

RegionMembers inBranches

IndividualMembers

Number ofBranches

Number ofDistricts

TotalMembers

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

Mid-Southern 58 54 - 1 2 2 1 1 58 55

North East Devon 10 5 3 2 1 1 1 1 13 7

North East Midlands 157 131 9 10 10 10 2 2 166 141

Northern 116 72 3 3 7 4 1 1 119 75

North West 116 119 3 4 3 3 1 1 119 123

South Eastern 530 536 4 13 14 14 5 4 534 549

South Midlands 194 177 1 2 14 13 4 5 195 179

South Western 22 18 5 6 3 2 1 1 27 24

Yorkshire 35 34 2 11 4 3 4 1 37 45

Total 1238 1146 30 52 58 52 20 17 1268 1198

Recruitment of new branch/branch members during year

During the year, the former Lancashire Region re-named itself the North West Region, tobetter reflect the area that it actually covers.

Whilst the number of members in each branch continues to vary greatly from branch tobranch, the South Eastern Region, in particular, the East Anglia area of that region has thelargest number of Guildswomen attending meetings. Springhouse Guild continues to recordthe highest number of Guildswomen with 132 members and, due to the size of its meetingroom, Kesgrave Guild has a waiting list of ladies wishing to join.

Sadly, branches continue to close due to the age and deteriorating health of Guildswomen.However, special mention should be given to the new Thringstone Guild, North East MidlandsRegion, which opened in May 2011 with 11 members. This is the second branch that thisregion has opened between July 2010 and May 2011.

Appreciation and special thanks should go to Doreen Statham, Regional Representative, NorthEast Midlands Region, for her hard work in supporting both of these new Guild branches.

Colette HarberGeneral Secretary/Membership Officer

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FINANCE

I have pleasure in presenting this report for the financial yearended 31 December 2011.

At every National Executive Committee meeting, I provide anup-to-date balance sheet and written report of the financialsituation, whether I am requested to be in attendance at the

meeting or not.

At the beginning of the financial year, I provide a predicted budget on various items. TheNational Executive Committee takes the opportunity to discuss the suggested budget, puttingforward any concerns or making any alterations. The agreed figures should then be adheredto throughout the year.

Over the past year, the National Executive Committee has adhered to the predictedbudgetary expenditure, as agreed at the March 2011 meeting. The General Secretary alwaysprovides the NEC with a copy of all bank statements received.

From the receipts and payments accounts on the next page, it should be noted that someGuild costs have increased.

Early in 2011, it was understood that the cost of posting letters would be greatly increased byRoyal Mail. With the agreement of Pat Stuttard, National President, and myself; theGeneral Secretary purchased sufficient stamps for Guild office use throughout 2011, at 2010prices.

The cost of stationery, (envelopes, paper, printer cartridges etc.) has also gone up due to theincrease in the rate of VAT to 20% in January 2011; the number of bi-monthly Newslettersnow being produced each time and also due to the provision of Guild leaflets and literature atthe external events attended by the General Secretary and members of the NationalExecutive Committee. The cost of attending these external events, travel andaccommodation, is included in the ‘representatives’ expenses’ line.

The cost of the Guild insurance also increased in 2011 by just over 10%. The line entitled‘telephone’ also includes the cost of building the new Guild website and training for theGeneral Secretary.

Taking the year as a whole, the Guild has been left with a very pleasing surplus. I offer mycongratulations to the National Executive Committee for keeping control of the finances.

Christine HayHonorary Treasurer

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Co-operative Women’s Guild expresses its sincerest appreciation to all Co-operativeSocieties, which have, over many years, provided support, both at national and branch level.The monies received by the Guild during 2011 were as follows:

Society Grants to Head Office/Branches £

Co-operatives UKSpace allocated to the Guild in the exhibitionarea at Co-operatives Congress in Birmingham Free

East of EnglandCo-operative Society

Support for all Guild branches within the Eastof England Society area 4,000

Heart of EnglandCo-operative Society

Support for all Guild branches within the Heartof England Co-operative Society 1,825

Midlands Co-operativeSociety – Northern Region

Support for Guild branches within the NorthernRegion of the Midlands Co-operative Society 550

Midlands Co-operativeSociety – S & E Region

Support for Guild branches within the South &East Region of the Midlands Co-operativeSociety

5,589

Midlands Co-operativeSociety – Western Region

Support for Guild branches within the WesternRegion of the Midlands Co-operative Society

1,340

The Co-operative GroupNational Head Office

National grant* plusOne-off grant* for new website and equipment

20,0002,000

The Co-operative Group –Central & Eastern Region Support for 6 Guild branches – for room rent 2,900The Co-operative Group –Northern Region

Support for 6 Guild branches for room rent anddelegate expenses 6,515

The Co-operative Group –NW & N. Midlands Region Support for Guild branches for room rent 5,776The Co-operative Group –South East Region Support for Guild branches for room rent 1,130The Co-operative Group –South & West Region Support for Guild branches for room rent 1,000The Co-operative Group -Cymru/Wales Grant to Guild branch in Wales for room rent 500

The Co-operative PartySpace allocated to the Guild in the exhibitionarea at Co-operative Party Conference Free

The MidcountiesCo-operative Society

Support for Guild branches within theMidcounties Co-operative Society 906

The Southern Co-operative Support for Guild branch 1,100

Total 55,131

* Grant paid direct to Co-operative Women’s Guild Head Office

Colette HarberGeneral Secretary/Membership Officer

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CONGRESS 2011

Congress was held over two days in The Chesterfield Hotel,Chesterfield on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 May 201. The themefor Congress 2011 was 'Women of Today; Young and Old'.Guildswomen came from across the country to attend.

National President, Pat Stuttard, broke with tradition and inviteddelegates and visitors to sing a suffragette song ‘The March of the

Women’ with music by Dame Ethel Smyth. To assist with the music, an accompanist playedthe keyboards for everyone.

Lyn Longbottom, Vice President introduced the Officials and Guests. The Mayor and Mayoressof Chesterfield gave all Guildswomen an extremely warm civic welcome to Chesterfield.

The Presidents' address was given by Pat Stuttard, National President, who reminded Congressthat the Guild had come through a very difficult time and that it still had hurdles to cross.

A variety of women speakers had been invited to speak to Congress, including; Joanna Kemp,Studentforce; Moira Lees, Co-operative Group Secretary and Sue Letts, Membership Manager,Midlands Co-operative Society.

A wide range of themes for the resolutions were received, debated and voted upon. Some of which caused lively discussions:

• World Peace• Co-operation• Children’s Clothing• Banking Debt• The use of cheques• Universal Credit system• Attendance and Disability Living Allowance• Child Benefit Entitlement• Women’s and Men’s Refuges• Pensions• Mammogram Tests• Child Carers• Educational Maintenance Allowance• Apprenticeship Schemes• Housing for Military Personnel• Fox Hunting• D.V.L.A.• Women’s National Commission

Delegates also agreed to support the Smile Train charity as its national charity for 2011/2012.

Christine Hay, National Honorary Treasurer, provided Congress with her first financial reportin respect to the Guild’s national finances and answered questions received in respect of bothher report and the audited accounts.

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Susan King, JP, Financial Secretary of the Mrs. Ben Jones Guild Convalescent Fund, presentedCongress with its annual report and audited accounts.

Colette Harber, General Secretary/Membership Officer, declared the outcome of the nationaland regional elections.

Ann Wallace, in her role as the Standing Orders Committee Chair, gave her report andconducted Congress.

Pat Stuttard, out-going National President, was presented with her President’s brooch by DorothyMiller, Chair of the West Yorkshire Area Committee. A badge is given to each out-going Presidentby the Co-operative Group.

Stuart Watson, an Awareness Volunteer for the Prostate Cancer Charity, received a chequefor £2,135, which had been collected nationally by Guild branches throughout the year.

Peake Performance, a choir and cabaret act, entertained everyone on Tuesday evening afterthe Congress dinner; the NEC Raffle held during the evening raised just over £200.

Congress vote of thanks was given by Pauline Lintern, NEC member, North East Devon Region,to all who had attended and who had made it a successful Congress.

Annual Congress 2012 will be held in Doncaster; the theme of which will be the United Nation’sYear of Co-operatives.

Lyn LongbottomNational President

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REPRESENTATIVES

54 Guildswomen currently sit on other Co-operative or Community bodies as follows:

• Co-operative Societies’ Board Members - 2• Co-operative Societies’ Regional Boards - 3• Co-operative Societies’ Member Relations Committees - 6• Co-operative Societies’ Area Committees - 2• Co-operative Party Councils - 18• • Co-operative Party Councils – Treasurer/Secretary - 3• Labour Party - 4• National Guild of Co-operators - 4• Age Concern Committees - 4• British Limbless Ex-Services Association - 1• Carer - 1• Community/District/Residents’ Association Committees - 6• Community Shop - 1• County Councillors - 1• Director of Swimming Pool - 1• Friends of Leicester University Local History Department - 1• Hull Libraries Committee - 1• Hull University Allumni Renaissance Group - 1• Justice of the Peace - 2• Local Church Councils - 3• Mayor/Deputy Mayor - 1• Mayor’s Benevolent Committee - 1• Mencap - 1• Mothers’ Union - 1• Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator - 1• Parish/Rural/Town Councillors - 7• Playgroup Committees - 2• School Governors - 2• Senior Citizens’ Clubs - 3• The Foresters - 1• Townswomen’s Guild - 2• Village Hall Committee - 1• Yorkshire Country Walks Association - 1• Youth Association Committee - 1• UK Society for Co-operative Studies - 1• WACUNA - 1

The National Executive Committee is grateful to all those who give their time to servevoluntarily on these bodies. It ensures that it gives the Guild a broader perspective ofnumerous society issues and gets the Co-operative voice heard.

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GUILD REMEMBRANCE

We mourn the loss of all those Guildswomen who have died during 2011. Among them weremany who had taken an active part in the Guild for most of their adult life. Their Branchmembers particularly remember them with affection, and the National Executive Committeeappreciates all that they have done for the Guild.

During the year, the National Executive Committee has been notified of death of thefollowing Guildswomen:

• Kath Simmons, who passed away on 3 January 2011 and who will be remembered bymany Guildswomen as the National President in 1990/91

• Mary Scoble, who passed away on 12 February 2011 and who joined the Guild in 1953and became National President in 1989/90

• Winnie Banks, who passed away on 27 March 2011 at the age of eighty-seven and shewas active at all levels of the Guild in the North East Devon Region

• Doris Munson, who passed away on 19 June 2011 at the age of eighty-six and she wasa founder member of the Alresford Branch in 1966

• Kathleen Smith, who passed away on 8 July 2011 at the age of ninety-seven and whomhad been a Guildswoman for 50 years

• Margaret Brown, who had passed away on 8 October 2011 at the age of eighty-eightand whom had been introduced to the Guild by her mother.

Guild condolences were expressed to the families of all these Guildswomen and published inthe relevant Newsletters in 2011.

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MRS. BEN JONES GUILD CONVALESCENT FUND

On behalf of the Fund Committee, it gives me great pleasure to present the Annual Report ofthe Fund for 2011

It has been a rather quiet year for the Fund with only two applications for grants and fourrequests for names to be entered in the Evergreen Book since Congress.

Grants

Two Grants of £150 each were made in 2011.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind Branches that grants can also be made toGuildswomen suffering from chronic illnesses if it is felt that they would benefit from a breakaway from home.

Because income, including Bank interest, barely covers administration costs, Grants are nowpaid from the Fund’s capital.

Evergreen Book

Eight names were entered in the Evergreen Book prior to Congress and a further four requestshave been received.

The Evergreen Book is updated each year just before Congress so that new entries can beviewed. This is the only time that the Books are on display. If you wish to view the name of aparticular Guildswoman, it is helpful if you know the year of death as well as her name andBranch.

Donations

Donations remain much the same as last year. Most accompany requests for names to beentered in the Evergreen Book, although some Branches still kindly make donations directly tothe Ben Jones Fund.

History

At Congress I was able to go through some old papers and other items belonging to the Fund.Among these were some real treasures, including the original Loan Account Book, a history ofMr Ben Jones, with a lot of information about Mrs Ben Jones and the notes on the history ofthe Mrs Ben Jones Convalescent Fund compiled by one of my predecessors.

An updated history of the Fund will be available at Congress and I would like to remind youthat Trustees can be invited to speak about the Fund to Branches, Districts and Regions.

Meetings

The Fund Committee meets annually at Congress. Although regulations state that theCommittee should meet twice a year, in recent years meetings have either been cancelleddue to bad weather, or to the lack of urgent business. The Financial Secretary is in regularcontact with the Chairman and when necessary business can easily be conducted viatelephone or email.

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Finance

In recent years, the Fund has been badly affected by low interest rates. Alternativeinvestment opportunities with the Co-operative Bank have been explored, but the Bank havenothing available that is suitable for a small charity such as ours.

Trustees

Mrs Edna Marshall resigned from the Committee in 2010 when she was first co-opted and thenelected to the National Executive Committee. Mrs Christine Walker JP was elected to fill thevacancy in July 2011.

The Chairman, Mrs Barnes, became a Trustee in 2004 and has decided to stand down atCongress 2012. The Fund Committee is very grateful to Doris for her commitment to the Fundover the years. She has served with three Financial Secretaries and six Trustees.

Thank you, Doris, for your contribution to the Fund.

I also extend my thanks to the other serving Trustees, Mrs Shirley Gosney and Mrs MadgeEccles.

Although the work of a Trustee is not onerous, they have a responsibility not only to the Fundand the Guild, but also the Charities Commission.

As the Financial Secretary, I have the privilege of wearing the brooch presented to Mrs BenJones when she retired from the Central Committee in 1892. This brooch has been passed toeach successive Secretary over the last hundred or so years and carries with it not only thehistory of the Fund, but of Mrs Ben Jones herself. I am grateful to Dorothy Ruddock’s familyfor, not only finding this very special brooch, but for taking the trouble to return it to mepersonally rather than entrusting it to the vagaries of the postal system.

Susan E King JPFinancial Secretary, Mrs Ben Jones Convalescent Fund

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Accounts as at 31 December 2011

MRS BEN JONES GUILD CONVALESCENT FUND

Charity Number: 266816

Income and Expenditure Account Year Ended 31 December2011

Receipts 2011 notes 2010Donations and Bequests 120.00 115.00Congress Levy 61.90 63.65Bank Interest C/A 2.92 4.07

D/A 17.23 17.21202.05 199.93

PaymentsGrants to Members 300.00 1350.00Congress Expenses 122.60 67.95Evergreen Book Printing 105.00 213.00Postage 7.06

527.60 1638.01

Net of receipts/(payments) -325.55 -1438.08

Statement of assets and liabilitiesas of December31st

2011 2010

Current Account 2107.78 2607.62Unpresented Cheques -157.06

Deposit Account 18388.14 18370.91

Total Assets 20495.92 20821.47

In accordance with your instructions, I have reviewed the receipts and payments account for the year ended31st December 2011 set out herewith and confirm that they are in accordance with the books and informationsubmitted to me.

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HEAD OFFICE

Colette HarberGeneral Secretary/Membership Officer

51 Church LaneUpper BeedingSteyningWest Sussex, BN44 3HP

Tel: 01903 814586

Email: colette.harber@phonecoop.coop

Website: www.cooperativewomensguild.coop

All pictures of the flowers shown throughout this report have been taken from theCo-operative Women’s Guild booklet entitled ‘Flowers of the Guild Garden’.