|
|
|
|
Co-operative and Community Finance
Early Spring News
|
|
|
|
|
Extended funding from Booster Fund
The Community Shares Booster Fund has extended its offer of flexible funding, thanks to a top‑up of support from Access – the Foundation for Social Investment. This will enable the fund to continue supporting the community shares market throughout 2025 and beyond.
|
Community shares are a way for people to invest in businesses that benefit their community – like setting up a renewable energy project or turning an old building into a community hub. Instead of relying on big banks or wealthy investors, local people can buy shares, become co-owners and have a say in how the business is run.
|
|
|
|
|
Support futureproofs Winterbourne Bassett pub
|
A pub and restaurant in Wiltshire have completed essential maintenance works after securing new loan and grant finance for their community venture.
|
Further to a successful community share offer and investment from Co-operative & Community Finance via the ‘More Than a Pub’ programme in 2018, over the last four years the community pub’s society members and committee have made a range of improvements and refurbishments to the building and gardens. These include outdoor seating, new landscaping, an upgraded play area, an EV car charging point, upgraded toilet facilities, and replacement of exterior windows and doors.
|
|
|
|
|
The Three Horseshoes secures new investment
|
A popular nineteenth-century village pub has received a new funding package enabling refinancing and securing its role as a vital community asset.
|
The Helions Bumpstead Community Benefit Society was set up in 2014 with a view to take community ownership of their local pub the ‘Three Horseshoes’ after it was registered as an Asset of Community Value by the local Parish Council.
|
In 2019 the society raised funds to purchase the historic pub – a building dating back as far as the 1870’s – with an impressive community share fund worth £287K and investment from us via our ‘More Than a Pub’ programme.
|
|
|
|
|
TWO DAYS LEFT to support The Globe!
|
Newcastle’s award-winning, community-owned music venue is running a crowdfunding campaign to help improve the premises and grow the business.
|
Last year the award-winning venue, on the western edge of the city centre, celebrated 10 years of community ownership, which saw it transform a failing pub into a thriving grassroots venue that holds over 30 gigs a month and hosts workshops and courses for musicians, songwriters and dancers.
|
Our friends at The Globe are now asking its wide community of supporters to help secure the local live music scene with a crowdfunding project, which closes this weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
BOOK NOW: Stir To Action ABCs of Community Assets
|
The ABCs of Community Assets, a new training programme from Stir to Action aiming to inspire a nation of new community asset leaders, is open for bookings, now.
|
Running from the 12th of March to the 9th July 2025, the programme – featuring workshops and study visits – will support local groups to find out more about acquiring, managing, and future-proofing vital assets in their communities. And what’s more, all participants will get a free copy of the ABCs of the New Economy guide in the post.
|
Starting with an introduction to Community Assets on the 12th of March, the programme will work through engaging local people, designing the right structure, developing a business model, running a campaign, raising investment, retrofit and more.
|
|
Explore the full programme here. All workshops and study visits are bookable individually. Some workshops will run more than once, so make sure to check dates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BOOK NOW: Alternative Business Models Course
|
Expand your knowledge to include less common and innovative approaches to business and governance.
|
When it comes to setting up a new organisation, or supporting others to do so, all legal frameworks, whether private, mutualistic, or charitable, are a response to some simple questions: Who should own it? Who should benefit from its value? And who should make the decisions? The Alternative Business Models training programme will enable you to choose the most appropriate model based on how you answer those questions.
|
|
|
|
In the news
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming events
|
- Co‑op Retail Conference: 14th - 16th March, a unique opportunity for those involved in co‑operative retail to learn from experts, meet with peers and discuss how their businesses are responding to challenges.
- Worker Co-op Weekend: 16th - 18th May, Workers Coop's annual Spring gathering brings together worker co-operators and supporters to reconnect, celebrate, be inspired, learn - and do business.
- Co-op Congress: 4th - 5th July, the event will boast a packed programme with a range of dynamic sessions and eminent speakers covering the topics that co-operators want and need to explore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
