From “impostor syndrome” to Director! Meet Co-op Hero Mareen Akhter, one of the team at worker-owned digital agency The Developer Society (@devsociety_ ) in Birmingham.💻 📝 A former teacher, she was heavily pregnant when she was hired as a developer, having completed a four-month coding bootcamp.👩‍💻 “When I joined, I had imposter syndrome and baby brain,” she said. “What I had learned at bootcamp was a bit fuzzy. So I found a top up course and the co-op paid for it. It helped me immeasurably."🧠 “It was a culture shock coming from the education sector with its hierarchies. It was just amazing to see everyone being treated equally. I thought it couldn’t be this good.” But it was. Four years into the job, Mareen became the Director of the co-op as well as a developer. And her input led to changes in their maternity policy. Nice one Mareen❗ #CoopHeroes #IYC2025 #CoopsYear #CoopsBuildABetterWorld #coops #comshares #memberowned #workerowned #communityowned #combiz

✊ BE PART OF IT. We are proud to be part of this powerful short film that celebrates shared ownership in the West Midlands. 💪 ‘Be Part of It’ is a poem created by @jasminegardosi, former Birmingham Poet Laureate, captured on film with moves from @DanceCo_opBrum. 😍 It includes footage of West Midlands co-operatives and mutuals @gluecollective, the The @devsociety_ and Hockley Mint – all captured by the brilliant by @mediaco_op. 📺 WATCH IN FULL a film that showcases the diversity of creative co-operative industries, and people, in the region 👉 buff.ly/3BbERyI 👏 The film was commissioned by the West Midlands Ownership Hub – a partnership between @westmids_ca, Co‑operatives UK and @EmployeeOwned – and funded by @powertochange_.

Allow us to re-introduce ourselves - through the launch of our redesigned website built in partnership with @devsociety_! 🥳 Our new website reflects the wealth of MIDEQ's work on migration, inequalities and development in the Global South. Check it out: mideq.org

Cruffin. A hybrid between a croissant and a muffin. What a time to alive!! Get your cruffins from the Bakehouse on Gibb Street 👍 Photo credit: @alextomkins from the @devsociety_

RT @CooperativesUK: Co-operatives come in all shapes and sizes. They make a difference to people, communities and planet. They are owned an…

At the launch of West Midlands Ownership Hub yesterday, as we're on the cusp of launching our #ComShares offer as a Community Benefit Society! Fab hosts in @Jo_Ind @nikkitapper, inspiring chat from @SproxtonAardman & poetry/dance by @JasmineGardosi / Dance Co-op Birmingham.

🚀New global #PeoplePower2023 report launched today shows where civil society conditions are improving & getting worse. 🔴🟡🟢 Nearly a third of humanity lives in countries rated as ‘closed’. New ratings & data on top violations: web.civicus.org/PeoplePower2…

A huge congratulations to our one of our partners, @CIVICUSMonitor on 7 years of protecting civic freedom! 🎉 Such a great project, and we can’t wait to see how it supports #civicspace over the next 7 years 🙌

👀 #DeloitteDigitalConnect: applications now open! We're partnering with @DeloitteUK to support #charities with expertise, advice and a network to support their #digital development. Runs Dec 2023 - May 2024. Find out more - and apply by 23rd October 👉 buff.ly/3Sv0bCt

Opportunity alert! 🚨 Our awesome partner @landcoalition are looking for a Digital Content Creator to join their team 👇

Thank you for joining us @lil_natw for what was an eye-opening session! Learn more about @devsociety_ here - dev.ngo/

Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Today, and every day, LGBTI rights are human rights ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 #IDAHOBIT

Happy #nationalpetday from Lola & all of the (many!) DEV pets! 😍

🚨 @theSchoolOfCode and @BinanceBCF have joined forces to allow social purpose organisations to recruit more bootcamp graduates! Our first bootcamp graduate, Mareen, has already joined us at DEV as a vital part of our team 🥰 fundraising.co.uk/2023/03/14…