M, N and O

Member Relations
Term used to describe the provision of educational, social and cultural activities for members of consumer societies with the objective of enabling and encouraging them to become actively involved in the running of their society. Replaced Education Committees and Departments from the 1960s onwards in most places. Now superseded by Values and Principles Committees in the Co-operative Group, and by other terminology elsewhere.

'Midcounties'
The Midcounties Co-operative is the number 3 Consumer Co-op in terms of size in the UK turning c. £700M per annum. It trades in Oxfordshire, the Forest of Dean, the Cotswolds and the Black Country. Includes a childcare business called 'imagine'. See www.midcounties.coop.

'Midlands'
Midlands Co-operative Society is the largest independent society in the UK with a turnover of c.£800M It trades throughout the East and West Midlands and was formed by the merger of Central Midlands and Leicestershire Societies in 1995. It has since absorbed Ilkeston, Desborough and Raunds societies. See www.midlandsco-op.com

MRC
Member Relations Committee - an elected committee of members which in some consumer societies oversees the provision of educational, social and cultural activities for members.

MRO
Member Relations Officer - person employed by some consumer societies to organise the provision of educational, social and cultural activities for their members.

Mutuo
The publishing imprint of the think-tank Communicate mutuality.

NACO
National Association of Co-operative Officials. Trade Union representing middle and senior managers, administrative and support staff in UK Co-operative enterprises. See www.nacoco-op.org

NASCO
North American Students of Co-operation - federal body representing Student Co-ops in the US and Canada.  Promotes Housing Co-ops for students and also Co-ops selling books, stationary and providing catering, bike repairs and other services. See www.nasco.coop

National Guild of Co-operators
An Auxiliary group of Co-op members - men and women - with groups mainly operating in the North and North East.

NCC
National Co-operative Chemists. Federal society set up by a group of Co-op societies in 1948 to run chemists shops. Became part of the Co-operative Group in 2004.

NCEA
National Co-operative Education Association. Former national body representing Societies which paid an annual subscription to the Co-operative College to fund certain national educational projects. Managed the Co-operative College until 1996. Acted as the Education Executive of the Co-operative Union. Wound up during 2002 and replaced with the Education Development Fund (EDF).

NEAD
Norfolk Education and Action for Development. Norwich's Development Education Centre. See www.nead.org.uk

NFPC
National Federation of Progressive Co-operators. A national group of lay activists and activists' organisations in Co-operative Societies. Operates in some Societies like a political party on Boards and Committees.  Best known affiliate is the 'London Co-op Campaign Committee (1960)' - often just known as '1960' - which is blamed by some co-operators for the financial and management problems of the old London Co-op Society prior to its merger with CRS in 1981.  See also The 'Progressives'. See www.theprogressives.co.uk

New Century House
Headquarters of the Co-operative Group.

New Ventures Fund
Grant fund managed by Co-operatives UK and funded by donations from its members to fund projects of the New Ventures Panel.

New Ventures Panel
Committee appointed by Co-operatives UK to develop new ideas for Co-operative Enterprises and oversee pilot schemes and feasibility studies in line with a recommendation from the Cop-operative Commission.  (NB In addition to the national NVP, at least one Society (East of England) also has its own NVP in the form of a Board sub-committee.

NVP
See New Ventures Panel.

Office of the Third Sector
Part of the Cabinet Office responsible for policy and support for Third Sector organisations including Co-operatives and mutuals. See www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/

Olive Co-operative
Manchester based Worker Co-operative selling co-operatively produced goods from Palestine and acting as an ethical tour operator to Palestine. See www.olive.coop

OSG
Former Oxford Swindon and Gloucester Co-operative Society, merged with West Midlands Society to form 'Midcounties in 2005. Gained a reputation for innovative and pro-active work to promote its Co-operative identity and active membership during the 1990s and was known by some wags in the movement - somewhat unkindly - as 'Oh So Good'!

OTS
Office of the Third Sector