Co-operatives UK

🎉 We’re celebrating! Today we’re proud to share a new report showcasing the impact of Business Support for Co-ops, a programme that's been funded by The Co-operative Bank plc since 2016 🙌 🤝 AND: We're proud to share that our partnership will renew in 2025, allowing us to continue this valuable work 💪 🤩 The report highlights the programme’s amazing achievements. Together we’ve empowered more than 4,000 groups via a range of activities! 👏 Since starting in 2016, the funding has enabled us to deliver an amazing range of activities: from direct business support; free events and webinars; the #UnFound Accelerator and #CoopHackathon events; and offering heavily subsidising registration for new #coops. 🏆 The support offered through our Business Support for Co-ops programme – delivered via a UK-wide network of expert co-operative development advisors – gets an average rating of 4.85/5 ⭐️  AND: More than 80% of #coops receiving this direct support are still trading! 👊 Our CEO Rose Marley said: "The Bank has been an unwavering ally in strengthening the UK’s co‑operative movement. Its investment into the Business Support for Co‑ops programme is more than funding – it’s a testament to their belief in the power of co‑operatives to build stronger, fairer communities." Maria Cearns, Chief Operating Officer, at the Bank said: "We’ve proudly committed more than £3 million to the Business Support for Co‑ops programme, because we believe in the power of co‑operation and the positive change that co‑operative businesses can bring to our communities." 🔎 READ all about it 👉 https://bit.ly/41Jfijn 👏

🌟 Since 2016, The Co-operative Bank plc has invested over £3.2 million in the Business Support for Co-ops programme, empowering 500+ #coops and strengthening the UK co-operative movement. Today, the Coventry Building Society, completed its acquisition of the Bank - meaning it returns to mutual ownership. And it opens the door to exploring even more opportunities to build stronger, fairer communities together. 💡 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ey6RijD8 #MutualOwnership #CommunityImpact

⌛ APPLICATION DEADLINE SOON ⌛ Youth Ambassador vacancy We’re looking for someone to join our organisation to implement our youth strategy by engaging young people within the co‑operative sector. If you’re passionate about: ✅ Advocating for young voices ✅ Promoting the benefits of co‑ops to young people ✅ Working with our Youth Advisory Group ✅ Supporting youth‑focused campaigns and events ✅ Ensuring young perspectives are integral to our activities ...Apply now! 👉 https://buff.ly/3kchbSc ⏱️ Deadline: midnight 2 January 2025. #coops #recruiting #hiring #jobs #jobsearch #job #employment #careers #nowhiring #jobopportunity #youngpeople #youth #youthwork #youthempowerment

We are proud to be part of new Fund for International Co-operative Development – launched on Saturday 21 December, the 180th anniversary of the Rochdale Pioneers. Its aims? 🚨 Crisis response: Delivering immediate humanitarian assistance to areas affected by conflict and natural disasters. ⚒️ Medium-term rebuilding: Strengthening and developing co-operatives in post-crisis recovery. 🤝 Long-term mutual aid: Promoting social justice by building resilient and inclusive economies through Co-op to Co-op trade. Read more and find out how your co-operative can get involved 👉 https://lnkd.in/eacAuShK The Fund has been developed through collaboration between leading UK co-operatives, including Co-op, Central Co-op, The Midcounties Co-operative, Lincolnshire Co-op and Co-operatives UK. It was convened by our member group, the International Co-operative Working Group (ICWG), which brings together expertise from across sectors, including retail, housing, and the worker co-operative movement. Our CEO Rose Marley said: “Our members have been incredibly generous and supportive on a number of fronts but now is the time for a Fund for International Co-operative Development to offer a more considered, and less 'ad hoc', approach. “At a time when it feels like there is continuous crisis in pockets around the world, a mechanism to cope with this is much needed so we can better support our partners in the global co-operative community.” Co-op News Dr Sarah Alldred Co-operative College The Co-operative Heritage Trust Paul Gerrard Pete Westall

On the 21 December 1844, a shop opened in Toad Lane in Rochdale selling just five products ... but the products were fairly priced and not contaminated. Over the next 180 years, that first modern co-operative shop opened by the Rochdale Pioneers and Equitable Society grew into a global movement that now has 3 million co-operative businesses and enterprises with 1 billion members and annual revenues in excess of £2.5 trillion - bigger than the GDP of all but the biggest national economies. One of the lessons of those last 180 years is that while hate divides communities, co-operation builds them. From Guatemala to Rwanda, co-operative models have proven to not just be more resilient businesses but also in their equity and democracy a compelling force for peace and reconciliation. So it was fitting that on 21 December 2024 at Toad Lane, the modern co-operative movement launched a new Fund for International Co-operative Development whicht aims to support new and exciting co-ops around the world in the places they are needed most. I am very proud that the Co-op is a driving force behind the Fund working with other co-ops in the UK and that I am one of the founding Directors of the Fund. Hate Divides Communities, Co-operatives Build Them. Paul Pete Westall Shirine Khoury-Haq Dr Sarah Alldred Rose Marley @Debbie Robinson Co-op News Co-operatives UK BBC News - Co-operative movement 'not a relic of the past' https://lnkd.in/e3uCTAuQ

Happy 180th birthday to our Co-op!!! 🥳🥳🥳 On the 21st of December 1844 the Rochdale Pioneers opened their first shop on Toad Lane (pictured below) and from those humble beginnings, the modern-day Co-operative movement, which today spans the globe, was created. Our own Co-op can trace its lineage right back to the original Pioneers and the founding principles they established in 1844 are as relevant today as they were then. We still live in a world often fuelled by division, inequality and intolerance. A world where it seems easier to criticise than to collaborate, where the “I” often takes priority over the “we” and where hatred can overshadow unity and peace. The co-operative business model positively challenges this and I am proud to be part of a movement represents the many, not the few. In the past couple of years member-ownership in our Co-op has grown by 2 million to 6.1 million and we aim to have over 8 million members by 2030. At the same time our Co-op’s vision of co-operating to build more value for our member owners every day has meant that we have stood up for our members’ interests and faced directly into the societal issues they have told us matter most to them. The pioneering work we’ve undertaken in respect of Retail Crime, Skills & Apprenticeships, Mental Wellbeing and Climate Change are all in response to our members’ concerns and will be the basis on which our societal impact is judged in years to come. We’ve spent 180 years representing our members’ interests, standing up for what’s right, offering value and quality, and supporting and celebrating the diverse communities we serve. In the coming years we plan to deliver even more on our brand promise of being “owned by you and right by you”. As a result of our members telling us in 2024 that they are concerned about sustainable sourcing and global conflict, we are incredibly proud to be part of the first of its kind Fund for International Co-operative Development, which launched in Toad Lane today. Developed through collaboration between leading UK co-operatives, including our own Co-op Group, the fund will provide financial support and expertise to co-operatives globally, helping communities rebuild after crises, foster peace, and create sustainable economies. The fund will focus on three key areas: 1. Crisis response: Delivering immediate humanitarian assistance to areas affected by conflict and natural disasters. 2. Medium-term rebuilding: Strengthening and developing co-operatives in post-crisis recovery. 3. Long-term mutual aid: Promoting social justice by building resilient and inclusive economies through Co-op to Co-op trade. This is another real manifestation of how co-operation has the power to bring millions of people together to drive global change. With much love to our member-owners, colleagues and fellow cooperators around the world - thank you for continuing to drive our work together and here’s to another 180 years!

"The people of Rochdale, pioneered a new norm, A member-owned business, which took the whole world by storm." Happy 180th Birthday to Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society! The first co-operative to create a set of seven principles which would go on to be used by co-ops around the world for the good of member-owners and the wider community. Read more in this blog by the Co-operative Heritage Trust, where you can also watch and read the rest of the poem, quoted above, by Maria Angotti: https://lnkd.in/eAqgzv7t #coops #cooperatives #coopheritage #heritage #180 #Pioneers180

READ our CEO Rose Marley's end of year blog: "As we approach the end of 2024, I've an incredible sense of pride and excitement. Together, we've advanced the co-operative movement in meaningful ways, positioning the sector for even greater impact on the 180th anniversary of the Rochdale Pioneers. "With the Labour government committing to doubling the size of the co-operative and mutual economy, we look towards a very special 2025, as we celebrate the United Nations' International Year of Co-operatives (IYC), with even more optimism." 🖊️ Read in full 👉 https://buff.ly/4gO38dj #endofyearblog #2024wrapup #ceoblog #coops #cooperatives #IYC2025

⭐ WANTED ⭐ The Co‑operative Governance Expert Reference Panel is seeking applications from experts in governance with a focus on financial co‑ops and/or credit unions. The Panel shapes strategic priority and best practice for governance in the UK co‑op movement. Application deadline: midnight, Friday 10 January. Find out more: https://buff.ly/49Ez0id #coops #cooperative #coopgovernance #finance #creditunions

🔎 Looking for a new podcast? Feast your ears on Punchcard from workers.coop, the UK based federation of worker led co‑operatives. 📣 Punchcard amplifies the voices, impact and profile of #workercoops – and shines a light on the world of worker‑controlled, democratically run co‑operative businesses. 🔘 Tune in to hear from a variety of guests sharing their stories, experiences and insights as members of worker #coops: www.workers.coop/podcast