Preston Cooperative Education Centre or PCEC is the latest addition to the ranks of emerging cooperatives in the City. It aims to support the creation of worker-owned cooperatives for Preston and the region, and is supported by a range of trade unions and the North West TUC.

The goal is to grow into a  provider of cooperative education and worker education, and eventually to become part of the future federated Cooperative University project as part of a partnership with the Cooperative College.

Our  ambition is to become  a significant and inclusive community resource, helping to reach, support and connect diverse groups, workers and unemployed, people of all ages and community activists.

The approach to learning will be fully democratic, imaginative and creative.

They will be allied with other like-minded groups and organisations, for instance those involved in community and worker creative and performing arts.

“I really miss the days when we had community, trade union and community resource centres providing a vital hub for solidarity, support and education in our towns and cities. My hope for the PCEC is it can be the start of bringing this back, starting with the important job of providing education for workers, co-operators and community activists to bolster community wealth building in Preston. Under worker ownership and control the PCEC will belong to the community and act for it”, said Mick Mckeown, one of the founding members of PCEC. 

Who is involved

Andy Birchall, Lynne Brooks, Julian Manley, Mick McKeown, Janet Newsham, Cilla Ross.