March 2020

Power to Change has suspended all current funding programmes, including More Than A Pub, as it is focusing its attention on supporting community businesses affected by COVID-19. All future rounds of this programme are currently paused. 

Please note: Any applicant part way through the More Than A Pub application process will be considered for Power to Change support. Please contact Tim to discuss your application.

FAQs are here, do keep checking back for more information, and sign up Power To Change newsletter for weekly updates.

Plunkett Foundation Chief Executive James Alcock has written an open letter to the groceries industry highlighting the threat to supply for community shops, and calling for support for both these shops and the vulnerable residents they serve, during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Specifically, the letter calls for

• reduced minimum orders,
• priority deliveries to rural and more isolated community shops,
• smaller, more frequent deliveries,
• implementation of rules in cash and carry stores to prevent panic buying and unfair distribution of stock.

He has also made the letter available as a template for those within community shops to send to local MPs, to urge them to take whatever action they can to ensure this important matter is highlighted across government and the groceries industry so that action is taken. The template letter is available to download on this page

Community shops have a huge role to play in provisioning residents who cannot get to – or need to avoid – larger supermarkets. We would echo James’ call for this action and urge community shops to add their voice by sending the letter to their MP.

The Government announcement on Friday 20th March that all pubs, cafes and restaurants were to close as part of the coronavirus response was unsurprising and a necessary step in these unusual times. It’s imperative that we all work together, that we co-operate, for the greater good of our communities right now.

We are glad to hear that planning rules will be relaxed so pubs and restaurants can operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak, enabling them to remain at the hearts of communities and provide support for those who need it. We would urge you to use these services where you can, and to support community shops near you too – doing so can help spread the load on the bigger shops while supporting the smaller ones that we all want to see in our local areas.

Community Pub ingenuity is thriving, as we would expect. We’re already hearing from Community Pubs who are extending their role and services. Some are receiving deliveries and parcels, others are sending out recipe boxes and instructions so people can cook their favourite pub meals at home. If your Community Pub is doing this, do let us know – send us details along with your website and Facebook Page or Twitter handle and we will be glad to promote.

The latest information and support can be found at the links below

Business support from HM Government from today 23rd March

General Covid-19 business information including Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, deferring VAT and Income Tax payments, business rates holidays and grants of £10,000 to £25,000 for businesses depending on rateable value and rate relief.

Plunkett Foundation COVID-19 Live is covering the latest advice and updates for all community business.

This situation is changing so fast, and so dramatically, it can feel hard to remain positive at the moment. But we are warmed by the stories we are hearing of communities coming together and supporting one another. This is what co-operative and community business is about – we are proud to be part of it, with you. Do keep getting in touch if your co-op or community business are facing any financial difficulties as a result of this – we are here to help, as best we can.

As the COVID-19 situation unfolds, many organisations and businesses are trialling online services such as live streaming for events, and platforms for holding meetings online. Parts of  The British Library collection are accessible online, musicians are live streaming and even book launches are being moved online. The creativity and ingenuity on display, as well as the determination to keep people connected, is heartening in trying times.

As well as reducing isolation and maintaining connection, technology can also help with running essential meetings online – with all the planning and swift decision making required at the moment, now is not the time to stop meeting, it’s just the time to do it differently. We know that some co-ops have cancelled or postponed their AGMs and other meetings, and that many are considering the use of technology to assist remote working. If you are considering this, we’re aware that this can be daunting. You’ll be wondering about tools and tactics. We have some suggestions…

For the former, check out this list of tools curated by co-op DOT PROJECT. This is an ever-growing list of tools that DOT PROJECT have found or been told about – they have not used them all and so it’s not a recommendations list, but it covers collaboration, online conferencing, and tools to help with online discussions. We’re grateful to DOT PROJECT for making this freely available.

Outlandish had advice on both tools and tactics. They recommended both Whereby and Zoom and gave the top tip that all attendees use the ‘mute’ function on their phone, tablet or device if they are not speaking. This ‘takes some practice but makes a massive difference to everyone being able to hear everything’

Tactics can be a little more old school. We spoke to Nathan Brown of Cooperantics, experts in Co-operative Skills training. Nathan advised…

‘A general rule of thumb is you need excellent chairing, to prepare the paperwork in advance, share an agenda, ensure that the tech you use allows people to signal if they want to speak, and take comfort breaks if you go over 90 minutes.  From past experience of chairing online and teleconferences, I recommend that groups use the “round” approach where every person is invited to speak in turn.  This ensures everyone gets heard and it avoids the need to work out who wants to speak.  Explain at the start how the meeting will work, and really focus on excellent chairing.’

We are all getting to grips with new ways of working. We are fortunate that there are so many great tools out there. If you have one you would like to recommend, or have tips on online meetings, we’d love to add them to this post – do let us know 

With the Bank of England emergency interest announcement today, and reports of stockpiling, we know that many organisations are keeping a close eye on their financial position.

If you are a customer and are facing any financial difficulties as result of the current situation then please get in touch so that we may help.

Co-operative and Community Finance are monitoring the current COVID-19 situation and have contingency plans in place that will enable us to operate throughout any eventuality.

We are continuing to monitor the latest reports and advice from the Government, Department of Health, the National Health Service and the World Health Organisation and should it be required the business is able to support all staff working from home.

We are following Government guidance for businesses and are also looking at reducing the requirement for people to travel on public transport (for example, making use of telephone or video-conferencing rather than face-to-face meetings) so current diaries may need to be re-organised.

Again – if you are a customer and are facing any financial difficulties as result of the current situation then please get in touch so that we may help.