Meet the CEO and Board
Registered in England: Register No. 28936R Industrial and Provident Societies Acts.
Registered with HMRC as an Exempt Charity.
Site Copyright 2012 Community Empowerment Ltd.
Geoff Wade B.A.(Hons) M.Phil.
Geoff Wade is our CEO and our Lead Consultant.
He has a lifetime of experience in the co-operative movement, over 25 years in cooperative education and senior management.
He voluntarily donates his services as CEO, receiving only out of pocket expenses and consultancy fees on the same ’as required’ basis as our Associate Consultants.
Geoff is a proven strategist, his extensive experience and understanding of the relationships between individual and group behaviour and organisational and legal structures, together with his senior management experience combine to make him an effective Lead Consultant.
Whether you are developing formal, informal, commercial or social goals, Geoff will analyse the needs of your community empowerment objectives and suggest structures and strategies for successful delivery.
IMPORTANT: Whilst you may also be working with one of our Associate Consultants, Geoff Wade will review each project personally
Academic Qualifications:
Geoff’s first degree was a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Science (Coventry).
He later received his Master of Philosophy degree from the School of Peace Studies (Bradford University) for his research into the contribution of co-operative education to conflict regulation and resolution.
Geoff regularly ‘updates’ his knowledge and is a frequent attendee and/or contributor at seminars and conferences.
Geoff has also successfully completed the General Management programme at Cranfield University School of Management.
Geoff is a member of the Social Science & Humanities Research Ethics Committee at Portsmouth University
Experience:
Geoff offers the rare mix of being an accomplished social scientist with extensive management experience .
His contributions to co-operative theory and practice include:
· The development of co-operative games theory and practice.
· Behaviour modification and team building.
· Joint author of COBIS (Co-operative Business and Information Studies in schools & colleges).
· Established (for Southern Co-operatives Ltd) alongside the Co-operative College, the Potential Future Director Training Project to prepare candidates for Directorships in Co-operatives and other mutual organisations.
· A vocal opponent of the demutualisation of former Building Societies and their conversion into mortgage Banks, warning of the ‘hidden costs and dangers’ and foretelling of the banking crises that would follow.
· With over ten years of experience in Co-operative Development Bodies, he has a broad understanding of the business and organisational structures available, their strengths and weaknesses, and potential suitability in differing circumstances.
· He has designed bespoke operational and governing structures for Companies, Companies Limited by Guarantee, Community Interest Companies, Charities, and Industrial and Provident Societies.
Co-operative Education:
Geoff Wade pioneered the strategy of using co-operative games in co-operative education. His work resulted in the adoption of co-operative games by the Woodcraft Folk and the emphasis of the co-operative movement’s work in schools.
Geoff was a Woodcraft Folk delegate at an international youth conference at Strasburg in 1979. The conference was introduced to the concept of ‘new games’ by the New Games movement but Geoff and his colleagues felt that much more could be achieved.
Geoff worked with Woodcraft Folk group leaders and children to develop co-operative games which analysed what was being learnt through play. He introduced co-operative games at Woodcraft Folk international camps and presented his theories at international conferences. His methods of ‘teaching through play’ were adopted by the Woodcraft Folk in the UK and by similar organisations, notably in Sweden.
A few years later, Geoff was influential, amongst others, in championing experiential learning and co-operative education in schools in the UK and abroad.
He later received his Master of Philosophy degree from the School of Peace Studies (Bradford University) for his research into the contribution of co-operative education to conflict regulation and resolution.
Examples of co-operative games can be found at:
The Board of Trustees of Community Empowerment Ltd are elected by and from the membership on a one member-one vote basis.
Currently Serving Trustees are:
Chair - Virginia Steel
Vice Chair - Maureen Blair
Secretary - Tom Blair
Treasurer - Rev Terry Carter
- Margaret Bryan
Executive (not a Trustee):
Chief Executive Officer - Geoff Wade
Executive Manager - Mike Tiller
Empowerment Ltd
