Merry Christmas from Co-operative and Community Finance
We're wrapping up (ho ho ho) for the year - our closure hours are below. We hope you are preparing for a good rest too.
Thanks for being with us, we look forward to seeing you in 2025!
Funds secured for sustainable living housing co-op in rural North Wales
A housing co-op and its residents have obtained a refinance and property improvements loan package for their remote co-operative living spaceset in the beautiful Powys countryside.
Established in 1985, Undergrowth Housing Co-operative Limited (UHC) was set up by local residents wanting to turn an unused property into shared co-operative housing focused on sustainable rural living. With the main part of the building dating back to 1860, the property and its seven acres of land are largely isolated within remote countryside approximately 7 miles from the small historic market town of Machynlleth, North Wales.
The building (although structurally sound with foundations built into the sturdy bedrock of the hill it is situated on), has undergone various renovations over the decades as well as solar and hydro power installation; but obtaining loans fromCo-operative & Community FinanceandCo-op Loan Fundhas meant the housing co-op can use the incoming funds for refinance and further property improvements in 2024.
Three loans and Thriving – here’s how we’ve worked with Brightwayz to help them grow
At Co-op and Community Finance, we provide sympathetic loan finance to help people take control of their economic lives and create social benefit.
Many of our borrowers work with us time and again, and we’re pleased to be part of their extended teams.
Recently, we spoke to Alison Holland, Founder of Brightwayz, to discuss the three loans they’ve had from us, the fourth they are aiming for, and the support we’ve been able to broker for them through the Thrive Together Fund.
We are so proud to be sponsoring and attending next year’s Future Co-ops conference in Lichfield on 31st January – 1st February.
The government has announced an ambitious target to double the size of the co-operative sector. Given this commitment, and at the start of the International Year of Co-operatives, theFuture Co-ops 2025conference will get to grips with what doubling the sector actually looks like.
Join Co-operative Futures for two days of lively discussion and debate. On Friday night they’ll be setting the scene, considering what the challenge of doubling the sector actually looks like, and what might be achievable in the next 5 years. On Saturday, there will be a number of interactive workshops to provide a platform for attendees to discuss how we can seize this opportunity.
Tickets include dinner and entertainment/networking time on Friday evening and lunch on Saturday.
At Co-operative and Community Finance, we're pleased to hear that the commitment to doubling the size of the co-operative sector is starting to be a part of sector-wide discussions.
Here are some of the reasons why the Labour Party wants to double the size of the co-operative sector:
Economic productivity:Co-operatives are more productive than traditional businesses and can contribute to the UK's economic growth.
Resilience:Co-operatives are more resilient than other businesses, with a lower risk of ceasing trading.
Ethical practices:Co-operatives are built on shared values and ethical business practices.
Community-owned:Co-operatives are owned by their workers, customers, or community members.
We recently attended the Democratic Business Summit in Cardiff, which was looking at what we need to provide as a sector for this to happen. We're looking forward to more of this in 2025!
