This year’s International Youth Day is a particularly important day for youth around the world. In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/64/134 proclaiming the Year commencing this International Youth Day (12 August 2010) as the International Year of Youth.

In line with the theme for the International Year, the theme for this year’s International Youth Day is “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”. The choice of theme reflects the General Assembly’s appreciation of the value of dialogue among youth from different cultures as well as among different generations.
In addition to the global launch event at UN Headquarters, there will be celebrations all over the world, which will highlight opportunities and challenges for youth throughout the International Year of Youth in different regions and countries. ??Join in the festivities and celebrate the International Youth Day and the International Youth Year with other young people from around the globe!

Linda is the Eco-operator for Total Coverage, a worker co-operative based in Southampton. You can read her story, so far, on the Greener Together website.

Total Coverage is a graphic design worker’s co-operative. Promoting sustainable design has always been part of the Total Coverage ethos, and one of the company’s unique selling points. ‘We’ve been promoting recycled paper and vegetable inks long before it became mainstream’, says Linda.

For this reason, Linda was initially hesitant about joining Greener Together, ‘when I looked at the project, I thought there wasnt a lot of learning that we could get from it because we were already doing most of the things’, she explains. However, a few months later, Linda looked into Greener Together further and realised that even though her colleagues were already environmentally aware, it would be a good opportunity to push the green message a bit further afield to the company’s clients and suppliers. ‘ I thought that signing up would mean that we could get the message out and under the Greener Together banner, it would be easier to disseminate the message further afield’. ‘Reaching out further really was the main reason it appealed to us’, she reiterates. ‘Most of us that work here are already pretty geren and I didn’t see the point of preaching to the converted. Broadening out to our newtorks and taking it tou to people who might not be as green as they could be really appealed’. Linda realised that not everyone is as aware as herself and her colleagues. ‘Without us reaching out, the people might have been a bit aware of the issues, but I think signing up to the Greener Together project has made them more focused on actual change. It makes them concentrate on doing things, and on understanding the reasons behind what they are doing, rather than just doing it because you ‘should’ be doing it’.

Linda remarks that there was a positive response to the project, however getting people signed up and motivated has not been without its difficulties. ‘Some people had problems with the website when they signed up and it made them reluctant to join or continue further’. Although the initial teething problems with the website did have a slight impact on peoples enthusiasm to join up or continue with the project, the number of pledges have started to pick up again. And having Greener Together to talk about with clients has provided a source of conversation, ‘It’s just something to chat about and I can ask them how they are getting on with it. It also makes it more personal too’ says Linda. Of the changes that people have been making, Linda reported that quite a few were refilling bottles instead of buying more bottles of water.

Linda’s own experience with signing up to the pledges has made her realise that, although she was already doing a lot of green actions, there was still more that could be done. ‘I’ve already made quite a lot of changes in my lifestyle as a result of us being quite a green company, but when you have to tick a box and see it written down, it does make you focusmore on action’. Linda has signed up to 15 pledges altogether. One recent purchase that was inspired by the initiative was replaceing her old kettle with an eco-kettle, when the old one packed up. ‘I wouldn’t have had the eco-kettle if it wasn’t for Gerener Together – it’s not the nicest thing to look at’. Linda also used to be a fan of the tumble dryer, but she hasn’t actually used it since signing up in April. ‘We have had great weather, but also now when i’m doing the washing, I tend to leave it until O know I can dry it outside, whereas before I would just get it out of the way and use the dryer’.

Southampton based worker co-operative, whomadeyourpants? is in the news again.

Well done to Becky and the team for getting some great coverage!

Log on to guardian.co.uk for the full story.

For the very first time Sky Ride is coming to Southampton. It all kicks-off at 10am on Sunday 25 July and is a rare opportunity to cycle in traffic-free streets and enjoy a day of exploration on two wheels.

Across the UK, tens of thousands of people have celebrated the first ever Co-operatives Fortnight, which ran from 19 June to 3 July. From events to early day motions, Twitter and tastings, members and supporters of co-operatives have got together to promote the co-operative alternative.
Over the course of Co-operatives Fortnight, an incredible range of activities took place, including:

•    Over 150 events in every region and devolved nation in the UK
•    Over 3,000 stores promoting the Fortnight nation-wide
•    Over 4,000 people watching the Co-operatives Fortnight film
•    Thousands getting involved through online social networks
•    13 co-operative schools being established
•    Two parliamentary motions being passed: one in Westminster, one in Edinburgh
•    The first formula for co-operation being revealed
•    And Co-operatives UK announcing that the co-operative economy has grown to £33.5 billion.

http://www.thereisanalternative.coop/events/fortnight

I have recently completed a BA (Hons) degree in Graphic Design at Southampton Solent University. I was honoured to have my final project, entitled ‘The Great British Hedgerow’, selected by Total Coverage for the ‘Best in Show’ award. I was given the chance to come and work with the company for two weeks for a look at the design profession.  Total Coverage was very welcoming and gave me a great insight into what they do and how they work. They were very helpful, enabling me to develop my understanding, knowledge and skills. I was especially grateful for the push into new software which I originally had reservations about using. Their sound advice and professional nature provided detailed analysis of my work and how a designer should work with clients. I also enjoyed getting to know the staff and working with them was great. Their friendly nature made me feel comfortable straight away; I want to give them a huge thank you for having me. Finding the time to allow me the chance to come in and really get to know and understand their company. Previous work experience in graphic design offices just didn’t measure up to them!

Thanking them again for their help and support.

In a new report, ‘Protect for the Future’, the charities – led by EveryChild and including ChildHope, Consortium for Street Children, The International Children’s Trust, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Railway Children, Retrak, Save the Children and War Child – are calling on world leaders to put the right to care and protection alongside the right to survival, health and education in their efforts to improve the lives of millions of the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged children.

Take the time this week to have one of the most important Heart to Hearts you can have and help us raise awareness of the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Most of us are guilty of putting off important conversations with a loved one, so why not spend some valuable time with family and friends during NationaTransplant Week to have a Heart to Heart.
It might be telling someone how important they are to you, reconnecting with an old friend or apologising to a partner, but have you thought about telling your loved ones what your wishes are about organ donation?
Take time this week to have one of the most important Heart to Hearts you can have and help us raise awareness of the NHS Organ Donor Register. You could have a group discussion over a meal, where our downloadable meal pack can provide the necessary information or privately, by sending a message to a friend, colleague or loved one through our ‘secrets’ website.

The Co-operative Group South and West Area membership team is holding a celebration of co-operation event tonight at The Art House Gallery Cafe in Southampton for local members to learn more about the wider world of co-operation.

Why not come along to a celebration evening to meet those who work in a diverse range of co-operative businesses across the city?

Linda Bratcher, Director, from Total Coverage graphic design co-operative will be there, giving a short presentation on how working in a worker co-operative makes a difference.

If you’d like to attend email fay.bowden(at)co-operative.coop

For Deaf Awareness Week 2010 RNID is getting involved in a whole host of activities and initiatives, which include:
•    Launching their new research on the effect of hearing loss on relationships. ‘In it together’ (due to be released 28.06.10) examines how partners and families can better support loved ones with a hearing loss.
•    Asking you to tell your ‘Dos and Don’t tips’ to make the people you meet day to day more deaf aware. You can email them with your thoughts and suggestions or get in touch via Twitter or Facebook .
•    Advising businesses about how to be more deaf aware. They will be sending businesses their handy information packs with information on Louder than Words charter mark, Deaf and Disability Awareness Training and Start to Sign courses.
•    Working with larger organisations. They’ll be meeting with large corporate companies such as Southern Railway and BT,  to look at how they are improving deaf awareness in the workplace.
Why not find out what you or your organisation can do to get involved!