News Archive
Innovation, Impact & Co-operation – Video Celebrating 50 Years of Co-operative & Community Finance
One of the joys of any birthday is surely the party – the chance to connect with friends and loved ones whether close by or far flung. Our 50th birthday has so far provided a wonderful opportunity for what, in some ways, feels like a year-long party. We shared this video at our recent AGM, showcasing […]
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Save Waste and Prosper
As the years progressed, we started to receive more applications for loans that focused specifically on making a positive impact on the environment. Recycling and recycled good became common sights on our loan applications paperwork. Save Waste and Prosper started out in Manchester, and continue to provide, Environmental Services from Leeds. We supported them in […]
Want to build a new economy? Support Stir To Action as they share the ABCs
Stir to Action is crowdfunding to fund the mass circulation of a special publication – ABCs of the New Economy – a new ‘primer’ and event guide to support for community-led organisations to build their own local movements. The free publication will create access to all aspects of the new economy, featuring tools and ideas to […]
Fifty years of friendship and finance – meet Brian Titley
Today in our series of interviews looking back over fifty years of friendship and finance we speak to Brian Titley. Brian joined ICOF as a Trustee in 2003, having known about the organisation previously and in fact having borrowed from it, as part of CAN – Co-operative Assistance Network. Brian remains involved in Community Shares […]
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Radley Village Shop
One of the key trends we’ve seen in our lending is the move towards democratic, community ownership in shops and pubs. Community Owned shops paved the way for Community Owned pubs, both of which tend to offer far more than their core business services. We’re thrilled to be part of ensuring villages and other communities […]
Fifty years of friendship and finance – meet Ed Powell
Today in our series of conversations with friends of ICOF, we meet Ed Powell, Director of Community Shares ICOF limited. ‘I’ve been involved with ICOF through Community Shares ICOF Ltd for the last two years. Before that, I’d worked for the Co-operative Group for around fifteen years, who helped to fund it originally, and came […]
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Paperback
London based Paperback are environmentally friendly paper merchants who have been selling recycled paper since 1983. We supported them through the 90’s to expand their stock selection. Today, they are still going, still specialising in supplying recycled papers wholesale, and they were the first paper merchant in the country to be awarded the FSC® Chain […]
Book NOW to attend our AGM online at 1pm on June 15th
The AGM will this year again be held online via Zoom, enabling members to attend remotely. Please contact Alain now if you’d like to attend, to secure your seat. All relevant paperwork including our Annual Report and AGM packs for LTD Members, PLC or ICC shareholders, is available online here.
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Total Coverage
In the 50 years that we’ve been lending, we’ve seen changes in the sorts of things people and organisations borrow for. In the early days, we supported industrial work like this gloveless welder in Wolverhampton. As technology and computing developed – even before smart phones changed everything for many of us – our lending kept […]
Fifty years of friendship and finance – meet Dave Hollings
As part of our 50th birthday, we’re chatting with people who have known us, worked with us and been supported by us over our fifty years so far. Today we meet Dave Hollings, Director at Co-operative & Mutual Solutions Ltd “I first got involved with ICOF when I was a coop development worker. My first […]