A new "Co-op Commission" to bring together the various youth initiatives in the co-operative movement could lead to 2005 being designated as the Year of Young People.

Woodcraft Folk vice chairman Richard Lace said the time to act is now after years of discussing and prevaricating over how to involve more young people in day-to-day co-op activities and democracy. He said many young people have co-op values and principles, but do not realise they form the core of a living, vibrant movement.

"We want to form a Youth Commission to bring together everyone's ideas. We want to probe into all the corners of our movement to reveal our strengths and weaknesses and suggest concrete actions. The Youth Commission would be owned by young people and follow on from the findings of the Co-operative Commission in 2001." More...