Interact 2009 - What People Said

Chris Lee, Social Enterprise East of England

Although I was only there for the Saturday, I felt instantly welcomed and found the sessions I attended really stimulating and, importantly, practically oriented. No point in talking if it doesn’t run into action!  I’ve certainly picked up ideas for activities that I’d hope to use in my work with SEEE.

Tom Blair, Director, Southern Co-operatives

Just a note to say how useful I found last weekend’s education conference. It was both stimulating and thought provoking. It also once again highlighted the importance to the movement of co-operative education and set out lots of examples of good practice.

Sue Letts, Midlands Co-operative

Just wanted to say how well I thought InterAct went – excellent organisation from you and your team – as always – and an excellent and varied programme that seemed to match expectations and indeed, exceed them.

I think a lot of people went home feeling very energised and inspired, and with a very high opinion of the co-operative movement.

Thank you and “Well Done!”

Alan Wilkins, Director and Company Secretary, Co-operative Learning and Development Associates

This conference is a unique contribution to co-operative education in this country – keeping it alive enables experimentation and networking that is the life blood to this aspect of co-operation … enabling us all to collaborate to create a programme that engages, promotes innovation and the exchange of experiences and resources, cannot be understated.

David Chapman, Ancient Arts

… a truly remarkable conference!  Pretty much all of it was unorthodox, but it was amazing how it included people!

Helen Underwood, The Foster Care Co-operative

A BIG thank you for the Inter Act conference and all you did which made it such a successful event. I was overwhelmed . . .

the conference was welcoming, well thought out and professionally managed from the absolute outset. The quality of provision by CLADA was exceptional, I learnt SO much and felt included from the word go. I have an understanding of Co-operative values that I didn’t have before, I have received offers of help from a number of people and have made links with others whose skills I can use in my practice, I have a range of tools I hope to use in my work and I have a desire to look again at my personal and professional practice to look at developing it further.

I am still processing it all but have already acted on my initial feelings within my own agency. I am very keen to attend in the future and to bring others and hope that by next year’s conference I will also have developed a working relationship with some of the people I met this year.

Thanks to ALL who contributed

Maureen Breeze, Vice Chair, Erlestoke Social Enterprise CIC and Extended Services Development Officer, Wiltshire Council. Email to Richard Samson

It has been an exceptional event building year on year and fulfilling a critical role in furthering understanding of co-operative learning and co-operation in the context of the Co-operative Movement and current educational and social issues.

There is great interest in co-operative learning around the world and the Inter-Act conference is the only event in the UK that focuses on it. It is meeting an essential role in maintaining and furthering understanding and practice and bringing together like minded people, who without this opportunity would have few other means of personal/professional development in this field.

Neil White, NOWPC

I think it’s certain that everyone left feeling better for having attended, learned a lot, and came away totally inspired. :)

Dan Wheals, Peoples Community Garden

Thank you so much for a fantastic conference. It really was fantastic and I am still thinking about the plenary sessions and workshops including play, youth arts, the debate on multiculturalism but more importantly the amazing people there. I learnt loads.

Yup it was really interesting to have coop members and educationalists mingling together and I would recommend it equally to both groups of people. The cooperative ethos is fantastic and I think a real long term winner for the coop and needs to be held high and proud. This conference is a great way to promote this message so I hope it is more widely understood in the future.

Cathy Henwood, First Question North

It was a great couple of days. I had some very valuable and thought provoking conversations with others from the co-operative movement that I just wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for the conference.

Jed Grimes, Teacher/Director, Blue Guitar Strategies for Learning

My second year at this stunning event: the energy, expertise and outright inventiveness of the organisers were, if anything, even more in evidence in 2009. The tone of levity and friendship at all workshops reflected the linking style of the members of CLADA, and in no way obscured, rather enhanced, the intense focus on the topics introduced and explored over the two days.

This year I was invited to present a workshop, and experienced first-hand the intelligent, sensitive and responsive support constantly available from the technical and managerial teams.

Altogether an outstanding example of a conference which practices at all times that which it sets out to promote.

Put me down for 2010, please!

Iain Maclean, Dynamix

Took quite a few ideas away from the conference – a few thoughts to ruminate on, especially around co-operative learning and non-directed learning.

Rod Greig, Head of Business Studies, Sewell Park College, Norwich

Thank you again for putting on what I think was the best of the 8 (so far) co-operative conferences.

Karyn Proctor, Hethersett Woodside Infants School, Norwich

Thank you so much for a wonderful few days at your amazing conference. As always it provides fun, stimulation and great team building experience. Long may these great conferences continue.

Michael Wadsworth, Norfolk Co-op Party

I enjoyed the Conference, which was the first I have attended. It certainly exceeded expectations and I am glad I went.

I will certainly recommend to all those who are interested in attending next years conference.

Giles Staddon, The Foster Care Co-operative

Thank you so much for a wonderful, inspiring, challenging, thought provoking, inclusive, energising and FUN Interact 2009 conference.

It was the first time our agency has been represented at Interact and will certainly not be the last. The way the conference allowed opportunities to meet and enter into meaningful discussion and debate with other delegates from such a wide range of backgrounds was greatly appreciated.

Chris Hall, The Co-operative Group, Wales

I’ve just returned from a terrific conference. It was not your usual conference; much more lively and participatory, with a mix of sit back and listen as well.

It focussed on learning and educational issues, but in the widest sense, we were discussing aspects of community, identity and multiracial society, for which we had a great debate (a mini parliament).

The whole conference from start to finish was a breath of fresh co-operative air. It’s lively, interactive, with participation, but nothing too extreme for the shrinking violets amongst us. A great way to develop real co-operative thinking…

Mary Rayner, Policy and Research Officer, Co-operativesUK

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed – and got out of – the InterAct conference. The facilitation led to such interesting and rich discussions, which I don’t think often happens in a conference environment. I don’t think I’ve been to a more participative event!

Albert J Collins, Chairman of Governors, Beacon Hill School, Ipswich

Once again many, many thanks for your superb orchestration of the InterAct Conference at Moulton. I really did not know what to expect when I set off from Ipswich on Thursday.

The Thursday evening “breaking the ice” meal and get together was an essential ingredient to the success of the conference, which I felt was conducted in a fashion which made everyone enjoy their learning. CLADA were magnificent but so also were all your helpers and speakers.

I came not knowing anybody on the delegate list and left having forged many new friendships and contacts. I also learned a great deal which I will apply in my role as Chairman of Governors.

The time flew by and I shall be looking forward to putting my name forward for future events.

Carolyn Ellis-Gage, Assistant Headteacher, Ditchingham Primary School, Suffolk

I have found it a really valuable conference in terms of finding out new information, methods for teaching and learning and networking.I really don't think there is anything else quite like it for Primary schools out there, so I really hope it can keep going and keep making such an important difference in education.

Hilary Taylor, Tower Hamlets Co-operative Development Agency

I just wanted to thank you for an excellent conference which was both informative and stimulating. I particularly enjoyed the imaginative workshops and it has also given me a fresh look at co-ops.

Kim Kelway, Headteacher and June Stockdale, Teacher, St Margaret’s CEVAP School, Ipswich

We thoroughly enjoyed the conference and came away with many ideas for school as well as much to think about. We have already begun to implement some of the suggestions and hope to continue to improve our practice throughout this year. One of the most inspirational aspects was just being able to spend time with people not associated wholly with schools, as we were challenged to look at things from a different perspective. We hope to be able to attend further conferences in the future. Thank you once again.