News Archive
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Hastings Furniture
The sign on the van proudly proclaims Hastings Furniture Service to be ‘your community business’. We think that this photo dates from 1998 when we lent to them to refinance their property. Was this one of the earliest uses of the term? HFS is still trading, as a charity now. Their website says that they […]
Manchester in May – it’s the Stir To Action Playground for the New Economy
We’re incredibly proud to be sponsoring the STIR Magazine 10th Anniversary Lecture Demanding Democracy: Reinventing Politics for the 21st Century, as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations this year Taking place on the Thursday 18th May, this lecture will mark ten inspiring years of the Stir to Action magazine. It will be delivered by Carne […]
50 years of friendship and finance – meet Charlie Cattell
Today in our 50th anniversary stroll down memory lane, we meet Charlie Cattell, a former Director and Chair of ICOF, who was involved in ICOF in various ways for almost twenty years between 1986 and 2004 I’d worked full time for ICOM from 1986 to 1996. Part of my role at ICOM was liaising with […]
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Retro Housing Action Zone
This photo from the archive is a real mystery – we think this was 1985 but that’s about all we know! Retro Housing Action – a housing co-operative – wanted to buy a property and we were glad to help them. Who’s this little person? Where are they now? Were the chickens part of the […]
50 years of friendship and finance – say hello, again, to Ian Rothwell
We’re enjoying the chance to talk to people who have been involved in ICOF over the last 50 years and it’s particularly lovely to have a chance to catch up with our old Investment manager, Ian Rothwell. Ian left us early in 2022, after working for ICOF for 14 years. Here, he looks back on […]
Could you be our new Chairperson?
We are recruiting for a new Chairperson – could it be you? We are looking for a dynamic new Chairperson to lead our board in providing strong strategic support to the small executive team, chair quarterly meetings, promote high standards of governance, encourage positive change and uphold our strong ethical values and co-operative principles. What […]
Calling Members – save the date now for our AGM on the 15th June
Save the date now to join us on the 15th June for the ICOF and associated companies AGMs. Our AGM this year will again be held online. Packs and information will be available before the meeting. Any questions? Please contact Alain now.
Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Cleggs Lane
In 1997, Cleggs Lane Nursery in Salford wanted to buy a property and we were only too pleased to help them! This fantastic archive image shows three aspects of their work. Haven’t swings changed a bit from then to now? Cleggs Lane Nursery is now Wow Kids Nursery, no longer a co-op but very much […]
50 years of friendship and finance – meet Dr Steve Walker
Dr Steve Walker first became involved with ICOF in the late 1990s when he was co founder of the Aston Reinvestment Trust. Now, over 25 years later, the Trust has become ART and Steve is still a member of ICOF. Here, Steve shares a particular memory with us. Like ICOF, ART is celebrating a birthday. […]
EVENT: Pubs, Clubs and Community Hubs
How have Community Based Organisations harnessed social Investment to help local people to thrive? We are proud to be part of Good Finance online event on the 18th April 2023 which will help you gain an understanding of some of the different types of social investment available, and hear directly from people who have gone through […]