News Archive
Community Energy Fortnight 2022
Community Energy Fortnight starts today, the 11th June, and runs until the 24th June. With the cost of living and fuel prices rising, there has never been a better time to think about local production and democratic ownership of our energy. This year, the fortnight is focusing on ‘Efficiency First’, helping and aiming to showcase […]
We’re going to Co-op Congress
The biggest event of the UK Co-operatives Year is back, in person. And we’re going to be there. Are you? After two years away, we are so pleased that Congress will be happening in person (with an online element) on Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th June in Birmingham, with a networking dinner on […]
Commercial retrofitting – info for Community Pubs and Shops
A guide intended to provide industry and stakeholders with a common approach to commercial retrofit through the lens of net-zero carbon has been published. From 2025, every commercial building in the UK will require an energy performance certificate (EPC) which rates its energy efficiency from grade A to G. The government has proposed that all […]
Social Investment Forum ‘Future Needs’ survey aims to understand charity and social enterprise funding needs
The Social Investment Forum (SIF) is undertaking a piece of research under its ‘Future Needs’ working group that aims to move beyond asking what form of money organisations want (loan, grant, blended, equity etc), and focus instead on assessing the product features that are most appropriate and desirable for charities and social enterprises when they […]
Community Shares Booster relaunches, and hits £200m milestone
We’re really pleased to share the announcement that the Community Shares Booster Fund has relaunched this week in England with new investment from Power to Change. And not only that, the Community Shares market has hit an amazing milestone of £200m raised through Community Shares. Fantastic news! We are incredibly proud to be involved in […]
Apply NOW to be a Co-op Local Community Fund partner
Until 29 May, local groups that deliver a project that benefits communities can apply to be a Co-op Local Community Fund partner. The Community Fund supports projects that make communities fairer for everyone. Co-op members have raised over £85m for nearly 30,000 local projects since the fund was started in 2016. Successful applicants will partner with […]
World Fair Trade Day
Today is World Fair Trade Day – a global celebration organised annually by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) to raise awareness on alternative solutions to the planet’s economic and ecological challenges. We really like their focus on business models that put people and planet first. Business is not going away and models that do […]
Recovery Loan Fund
Are you a UK charity or social enterprise who has been impacted by Covid 19 and need funds to help you survive, recover and grow? Our friends at Social Investment Business may be able to help. Talk to us about whether you could be eligible for their Recovery Loan Scheme. Eligible organisations can apply for loans of £100k-£1.5m […]
Towards Inclusive Social Investment – we have signed up to the Diversity Forum
We are proud to share that we have signed up to The Diversity Forum. The Diversity Forum is a collective within the UK Social Investment Sector, on a mission to drive inclusive social investment in the UK, through the convening of sector-wide groups, commissioning research, and knowledge sharing. The Manifesto that we have signed up […]
Community saves The Bell Inn
Co-operative & Community Finance’s ‘More Than a Pub’ finance package has helped the residents of Frisby on the Wreake purchase and refurbish The Bell Inn, creating a pub owned and protected for future generations by the community. As the only remaining pub in Frisby on the Wreake (situated on the Upper Wreake Valley of Leicestershire) […]