News Archive
2017 – The Year of the Co‑operative Pub
2017 was the Year of the Co‑operative Pub. We saw a big growth in demand for finance from communities wanting to take ownership and control of their local assets, especially pubs. Just over three-quarters of the finance we released in 2017 went to 10 community benefit societies involved in pubs and hospitality. More Than A […]
‘More than a Pub’ programme extended
A major support and finance programme helping communities to take control of their local pub for the benefit of the community has been extended until March 2019, it has been announced today (23 February 2018) by Community Pubs Minister Jake Berry. More than a Pub: The Community Pub Business Support Programme was launched in March […]
Going, going, gone! Sold to the community.
The New Year started well for the people of Cookshill and Caverswall, neighbouring villages on the outskirts of Stoke on Trent. On 5 January their long fight to save their pub from demolition came to an end when the Auctioneers Arms was bought by Caverswall Community Society. Some 130 local people had bought shares in […]
Community holds keys to success
Just one month after collecting the keys of the Cross Keys, the people of Redgrave in rural Suffolk are opening the doors of their community-owned pub for just a few hours on 23 December for pre-Christmas drinks. “It is meant to be a low-key event – an informal chance to celebrate and say thank you.” […]
Positive future for retrofit co-op
A unique co-operative that is helping to reduce carbon emissions and lower household energy bills is expanding thanks to a special loan fund created by the Ecology Building Society and managed by Co-operative & Community Finance. RetrofitWorks, based in London, is a multi-stakeholder co-operative whose members include both owners/managers of housing stock such as local […]
Community Co-operative Awards
Once again we are proud to be a sponsor of the Community Co-operative Awards. If you have a community-run business in your area that you feel goes above and beyond to support the community then please persuade them to enter (communityownershipawards.com). It’s free to apply and entrants get good publicity. Applications close on Friday 27 October […]
Invest now in Community Business
After helping many communities to raise finance we are now holding our own community share issue. We are inviting you to invest ICOF Community Capital (ICC) and help us make a positive change for workers, communities and the environment. ICC is a loan fund set up to support the growing number of UK communities taking control […]
Co-op pub buys second building in village
A community benefit society that saved the pub in an Essex village last year has bought a second property that it will convert into a restaurant and affordable rented accommodation. On 19 September Great Oakley Community Hub Ltd completed the purchase of the property known as the Red House which stands next to the Maybush […]
Village action saves the ‘painters pub’
An historic village inn that is reputed to have been frequented by two of the most famous English landscape painters has been saved by the local community. The Lamarsh Lion, near Bures in Suffolk, has been bought by a community benefit society of 320 members. There are now over 50 co-operative pubs in England and […]
New co-op partnership to help communities
The Co-op Foundation has appointed Co-operative & Community Finance as its advisory partner in the development of a new programme of grants and social investments, which will support community-run enterprises in disadvantaged areas of the UK. An initial pilot will focus on four areas of community life: community centres, housing, transport and green spaces. A […]