June 2019

The dust has settled after a few busy weeks of events, and we want to say a big thank you to everyone who came to our well received AGM and networking lunch on the 13^th of June in Bristol.

Financially it was all good news on all companies and we are delighted to share news of the first payment of interest to ICOF Community Capital Investors (ICC) in ten years. Other exciting news covered the ICOF Community Capital (ICC) share offer, open on our website now, and our call for further investment later in the year

In terms of Governance and roles, our congratulations go to our Chair Jon Nott on his successful first year in role, and to Brian Titley and Bruce Wood on their re-election. We also thank Andy Love for successfully standing again as PLC shareholders representative.

We were proud that so many great exhibitors and speakers wanted to be part of the event with us. Co-operatives UK’s Zena King talked about ‘Building Co-operative Places’ and also commented that, ‘It all seemed to go well and everyone seemed positive and engaged in what Co-operative and Community Finance is doing!’

With Community Business weekend not too far behind us, Power to Change talked about their work with Community Businesses, the importance of social investors to support the growth of Community Business and the successful More than a Pub partnership. They also might have won the tweet of the day competition – representative Kate Stewart said, ‘And a genuine thank you to Alain for proving that annual accounts can be presented in an interesting and plain English way!’

The room was excited to hear about The Bristol Cable’s innovative and investigative community journalism, locally rooted but not inward looking, and we were thrilled that The Cable enjoyed attending. Cait said,’Thanks so much for inviting me. It was great! Really nice opportunity to meet like-minded people’

As well as hearing from our speakers, it was great to hear a busy buzz in the breaks and to see lots of networking taking place  – that was very much the plan! Tastebuds were tantalised as Essential Trading provided various lovely samples: dates with their own chocolate spread, their own label yeast extract and organic muesli. And the terrific lunch was thanks to Baba Ganoush. To name but a few, we’re grateful to Stir to Action for exhibiting, the Bristol Credit Union and Bristol Pound for attending and it was good to see Co-operative Futures and Plunkett Foundation among the faces in the room

We’d worked hard to make it more than just an AGM and into something that was truly interesting. We’re grateful to our speakers, exhibitors and caterers who definitely made it so. Watch this space for next year – we want to build on this and create a bigger, better event in 2020

We are delighted to share in the news that the Plunkett Foundation ‘More Than A Pub’ programme, supporting communities across England to save their local pub, is back – with a £2.2million funding pot.

Launching today at The Dog Inn in Belthorn, Lancashire, the programme will run for 18 months, until December 2020. As a previous and continuing loan provider to the programme, we are looking forward to hearing from, and meeting, the next round of community groups who want to save their pub.

Community pubs are so much more than a pub. Owned by members, they are run democratically, on the basis of one-member-one-vote. They operate in and with communities and are driven by the community needs – many incorporate craft and social groups, post office counters, food takeaway services and even library provision. They tackle loneliness and create community cohesion. Often the last hub in a local area, they provide a place for a community heart to beat.

Member control and input ensures that community pubs continually flex and respond to the needs of members and the wider community. Being of, and for, the community means decisions can be made quickly in response to changing local need – there’s no remote landlord, detached from the on the ground reality. And this leads to commercial success – community pubs have a 100% success rate, bucking the national trend which has seen around a quarter of privately-owned pubs shut down since 2008

If you are part of a group considering taking ownership of your pub, find out more from some of those who have – we’re proud to have been part of the story for for many community pub groups including the Three Horseshoes at Hellions Bumpstead, the Bluebell at Cocking, the Three Tuns at Guilden Morden and the Crown Inn at South Moreton. And, if you decide to make your pub More Than A Pub, we look forward to helping you on the way. Here’s to opening night!

We are thrilled to share in the news that the popular and successful More Than A Pub, the support programme for communities looking to take over their local pub is back! 

Being one of the two loan providers to the programme, and having supported Community Pubs like the Three Horseshoes at Hellions Bumpstead, the Bluebell at Cocking, the Three Tuns at Guilden Morden and the Crown Inn at South Moreton, we know how much this programme of support and investment will help more communities thrive.

Relaunching at a special Community Pubs event in Lancashire, the day will be suitable for groups at all stages of the community pub journey, from setting up to running a thriving community pub business.

You’ll hear about:

• An overview of the More Than A Pub programme and how your community will be able to benefit
• Inspiring stories from trading community pubs
• Workshops – for both established and new groups
• Hot Topics (discussion session) – topics dependent on the needs of attendees
• Tour of The Dog Inn
• Networking

Spaces are limited so book now to secure your place and keep an eye on the  Plunkett website on the 19^th June for full details of the programme.

You still have time to book tickets for our AGM and Networking Lunch, taking place next Thursday, the 13th, at Triodos Bank’s Foundation Space (Deanery Rd, Bristol BS1 5AS)

Join us from 10.30am to see exhibits and stands from:

• The Bristol Cable
• Co-operative Futures 
• Co-operatives UK
• Essential Trading
• Plunkett Foundation 
• Power to Change
• Stir to Action

Then at 11, our Chair will kick things off. Speakers include:

• Co-operatives UK
• Power to Change
• The Bristol Cable

We have set the agenda so there will be plenty of time to meet like-minded co-operators, from Bristol and beyond over a delicious lunch from Baba Ganoush Bristol. Members, non-members and all interested in democratic business are most welcome to join us

Book your place here by noon on Wednesday 12th  – and see you there!