Take over Toad Lane

To celebrate the U.N International Year of Co-operatives in 2025, the Co-operative Heritage Trust is offering FREE use of our learning loft space at Rochdale Pioneers Museum for use during open hours Wednesday to Saturday from February to April. 

There are 2 billion co-operative members around the world who share the principles developed in Rochdale in 1844, to provide better opportunities for their members. The first International Year was recognized by the United Nations in 2012 when our museum was renovated. In 2025 we want to celebrate the diversity on our doorstep and make our principles more meaningful to local people by inviting them to use our space and keeping it sustainable for the future. 

More information HERE.

Who qualifies and how do I book? 

• Your group must work with or for people from international backgrounds or promote and celebrate different cultures (You don't have to have charitable status) and you could be a community group. 
• The event or activities you offer should be free to your members or the general public. 
• They need to take place during our staffed hours between Wednesdays and alternate Saturdays 10:30 to 16:00 
• Be between February and April of 2025 

Contact us by emailing museum@heritagetrust.coop to request a date for your activity - it will depend on our availability and we will send you a booking form. 

We have greater availability on Saturdays. 

Are there any restrictions? For these free bookings there is a maximum of 40 people allowed in the learning loft at any one time (see our hire page for the specifications and room layouts). The group is responsible for its own catering and safeguarding during an event. Risk assessments can be provided on request