The Future Economy Alliance (FEA), which we are proud to support, is working to build an economy where society profits.

As we approach a General Election, they want to build a movement that can’t be ignored, to make sure our next government takes a new political approach to business: doing what’s best for people and planet, not just for profits.

Business is a huge driver for change. It’s already making an enormous impact, but not the one we want – that can change. Co-ops and community businesses have long centred people and planet alongside necessary and proportionate profit. We agree with the FEA that the challenges of today – post Brexit, post Covid, the ongoing cost of living crisis – need a new, joined up approach. Business has to work for everybody, sharing profits and power with communities, actively tackling social and environmental issues.

Ahead of the next General Election, there is a golden opportunity to build the case for business with a purpose beyond profit. Economic reform, a partnership state, climate action and local power will all be part of building a a stronger, fairer, greener economic climate for the UK.

Made up of business leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, investors, fundraisers and third sector experts, and representing social enterprises, co-operatives, mutuals, employee-owned businesses, social investors, and community-led organisations, the FEA is united in the vision of an economy where our entire society profits.

Do you want to be part of this change? Find out how to get involved here and mark your diary for the 18th June. A Day of Action will champion the value of mission-led businesses and show parliamentarians why and how these businesses hold the key to fixing our economy.

Find out more here.

Are you part of a co-op or community owned business in England looking to green your business?

Funding matched to community shares is now available to help you invest in energy efficiency measures which will reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint. This could include specific items such as heat pumps or solar panels, double glazing or LED lighting, as well as supporting the purchase of energy-efficient equipment and transport.

Co-operatives UK and Crowdfunder have launched the £250,000 Energy Efficiency Sharematch fund to support community businesses as they invest in greener ways of operating. Provided by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment Sharematch uses funds from the Dormant Assets Scheme, which redirects money from forgotten accounts to good causes.

Find out more here and find the full eligibility criteria here. Ready to go? Fill in the Expression of Interest form here.

Not considering a crowdfunder? We might be able to help through The Energy Resilience Fund – a blended loan and grant finance scheme helping co-operatives, community businesses and social enterprises to retrofit energy generating/saving technology on community owned or managed buildings. Find out more right here.

This week, 13th to 19th May, is Mental Health Awareness Week

More and more conversations are being had about Mental Health, in homes, organisations and across the nation. A broader understanding of what’s needed for good mental health is – thankfully – becoming more widespread. You may have heard that some of the key factors for good mental health are Autonomy and Agency.

Autonomy – knowing we have the right to make choices about our lives

Agency – having the capacity to act on those choices, and take our life in the direction we want

On the flip side, it’s understood that a lack of these things can contribute to poor mental health.

Work is a big part of life for many of us, and the quality of our work is critical. In 2022, Co-operatives UK published a report called Offering Hope. Updated in 2023, this report, ‘finds that mental health, job security, career prospects, a lack of control over working lives and climate change are major causes of stress in young people.’. It also finds that co-operatives, due to the very nature of their structures, and the values they are based on, can support improved mental health outcomes. In the report, Steph Rutherford of Village Greens is quoted as saying, “Every day I go into work I come out feeling better, which I know is incredibly rare; knowing you’ve got a support network around you.”

This Mental Health Week we are celebrating the good work and good working environments created by co-operatives and community owned businesses – those we work with, and those we don’t. Co-operatives offer hope, and a better way, and we are proud to be part of supporting that change.

Today, May 1st, is International Workers Day – a global celebration of workers and the working classes. Who better to talk about today than workers.coop?

With the stated aim  of ‘Liberating Work’, and a belief ‘in a world where everyone has access to rewarding, meaningful and sustainable work’, workers.coop was conceived two years ago, at the Worker Co-op Weekend in May 2022. Five months later, in October 2022, the Co-operative Society was registered and work began apace.

Nineteen months after registration, today, workers.coop has firmly established itself as a part of the UK co-op scene.

It has 87 members, numerous working groups, a busy events calendar and ambitions plans – we particularly like their plans to spread the word about worker cooperation among new generations and groups of workers. In an increasingly task based work environment, with limited opportunities for personal growth and leaning, the need for a focus on workers is only increasing.

They are running the ever popular Worker Co-op Weekend in a few weeks, from May 17th to 19th in Bakewell. A recent addition to their offering is the (bookable online) “Co-op Conversations” service where people can talk through an early stage co-op idea with one of workers.coop supporters. They also have a busy online forum where members can chat, share ideas and ask questions.

Their website is packed with information and resources. There are case studies from across the co-op space demonstrating the scope of the model – Agile Collective, Fruit Works Co-op and Leading Lives covering different sectors; websites, fruit trees and social care. They outline reasons to join – from the values led to the financial. All members of workers.coop can save 50% on their membership of Co-operatives UK, and worker co-ops in start up mode can ‘pay what they can’ for two years.

Find out more about workers.coop on their website here

Explore their events calendar here

Find their resources here

Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) has launched new episodes of its Reset and Rebuild podcast highlighting the benefits of inclusive business models.

Hosted by Co-operative Development Scotland team leader, Darah Zahran, and featuring experts from Greencity Wholefoods, Co-operate Scotland LLP, Worker Co-op Federation, us and ground-breaking new booking co-operative Kooble, the podcasts have been produced to support CDS’ wider campaign to showcase the role inclusive business models, such as employee ownership and co-operatives, can play in creating a fairer, stronger and more democratic economy. The series showcases success stories from the sector and providing practical information to those considering one of these models.

This series of podcasts sets out to energise businesses, communities, policy makers and the wider eco system in Scotland to consider inclusive business models and encourage them to connect with CDS to access support.

The Reset and Rebuild Podcast series is now available to listen/ download on the Co-operative Development Scotland blog site: https://bit.ly/49eUMag

Our own Business Development manager Tim Coomer features in Episode 16, which explores understanding and accessing finance as a key challenge for new and growing coops. Listen here

Today, the 7th of April, is World Health Day. The theme for World Health Day 2024 is ‘My health, my right’. To mark this day, we’re profiling a co-operative that is working towards more accessible healthcare.

Signalise is a platform co-operative run by its members to provide interpreting services for people who need to book BSL interpreters and other communication professionals in Liverpool and Merseyside.

They aim to have membership from the three user groups involved in Deaf people’s access to health care – Deaf people; other interested parties such as healthcare providers and commissioners who need to purchase services and have a statutory duty to care for Deaf service users, and the communication professionals who facilitate communication between Deaf people and health staff.

A few years ago, when starting up, Signalise were keen to find out what all three user groups thought about interpreting services for Deaf people. They undertook a survey of users across the five boroughs of Merseyside; Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley & St Helens. You can read the report Signing the right path here.

Did you know it costs the NHS £30 million per year in the poor diagnosis and ineffective treatment of Deaf people? The current system doesn’t work and leaves Deaf people without any choice or control. Interpreters have boycotted agencies who demonstrate a lack of knowledge and respect of the Deaf community and interpreting. Agencies have gone into liquidation as a result of traditional working practices that cannot meet demand led services. This is why the work that Signalise does is so important.

Find out more about Signalise here.

UPDATE 23rd April. Signalise are in the running for the Tech Nation People’s Choice Award and they need your support to help them! Like, comment on and share their pitch on Instagram – the pitch that creates the most social media buzz will win, and the winner gets to speak at London Tech Week which would be huge for platform co-op Signalise. Thanks in advance!

This week, from the 18th to the 24th March, is Neurodiversity Week.

Conversations about diversity and inclusion are increasingly including neurodiversity and this week aims to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about, and celebrate, neurological differences, as part of the infinite variety of ways to be human. How familiar are you with the concept?

The term is a broad one, created in 1998 by Judy Singer, and tends to include varied ways of thinking or experiencing the world such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Autism, ADHD and Tourettes Syndrome. The Neurodoversity Week Resource Hub is packed with information collated from across the internet to help us all understand more about Neurodiversity.

The Week, and the campaign, want to help us all recognise and celebrate those who think differently. As with so many campaigns by and for those of us who stand outside the mainstream, they state that the main problems neurodivergent people face frequently come from systemic and structural issues, inside systems designed by and for the majority.

There are lots of events running throughout the week, starting with an Introduction to Neurodiversity on Monday 18th and including Neurodiversity for HR Professionals, and Good Practice for Neurodiversity Professionals.

Are you part of an organisation that wants to increase your support for neurodivergent people? Check out the full calendar at a glance in a handy table here and sign up through the individual event links below the table.