News Archive
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 […]
Another Co-op Pub in the Essex/Suffolk Cluster
A 400-year-old village inn that had been closed since September 2016 has become the seventh co-operative pub in a cluster of community ownership in the counties of Essex and Suffolk. On 29 June 2017 The Kings Head at Pebmarsh near Halstead was bought by a community benefit society of 320 members. There are now over […]
50th Co-op Pub Opens
A rare example of an ungentrified local in the affluent Royal Borough of Windsor has become the 50th co-operative pub in the UK. On 26 June 2017, the Craufurd Arms in Maidenhead, a pub known for its good beer, darts teams, and sports TV, was bought by a community benefit society of 226 members. The […]
Daniel Stanley
Daniel Stanley Currently the Managing Director and co-founder of non-profit creative agency We are Small Axe, building movements for a better world. Partnering with causes like the Green Party, Save the Children and Robin Hood Tax. Daniel has a Masters in Social Psychology of Communication from London School of Economics. Daniel has worked in drug […]
Cath Muller
Cath Muller Cath came to co-operative living and working in the mid-90s via eco-activism, Cornerstone Housing Co-op and the Radical Routes federation of co-ops working for radical social change. She still lives in Cornerstone, working for Footprint Workers’ Co-op and helping found several co-ops as social enterprises, campaigning organisations or community development projects, all with […]
James Alcock
James Alcock James was appointed General Manager at Plunkett in January 2017, and is responsible for the day to day operations of the Foundation. He joined Plunkett in August 2007, and has since established our core advisory service for rural community co-operatives, consisting an advice line, advisory support programmes, events and membership. James is a BA (Hons) and MSc by Research graduate […]
Another co-op pub opens
A charming 200-year-old red brick building on a village green in rural Kent has become the latest co-operative pub in England. On 22 June 2017 The Harrow in Stockbury near Sittingbourne was bought from the brewery by a community benefit society of nearly 150 members. The people of Stockbury moved quickly when they learned last […]
Refurbishing community-run leisure centres
Co-operative & Community Finance is working with other funders to finance refurbishment at two community-managed leisure centres in Kent. Sencio Community Leisure is a community benefit society set up in 2003 to run three leisure centres and a golf course on behalf of Sevenoaks District Council. The transfer from local authority control has allowed access […]