News Archive
Print and pixels: Publishing co-op goes digital
A long standing publisher of radical and academic literature is moving forward with e-book development plans, after receiving a loan from us. Founded in 1977, Zed Books is one of our oldest and most well established borrowers. This is the fourth in a series of loans that Zed Books has drawn from the fund in […]
Co-op flush with finance!
A plumbing co-operative in Bristol is better equipped and set to expand after receiving financial assistance from us. Bristol Plumbing Co-operative was formed in 2011 and is one of only a handful of trade co-ops in the UK. It offers a range of plumbing and central heating services and also advises clients on environmentally friendly […]
Devon village shop opens in a burrow
The residents of a small village in West Devon are putting the finishing touches to their new community-owned shop – thought to be the first in the UK to be sited underground. The Burrow in Exbourne is a unique shop, post office and cafe buried in a sloping field in the centre of the village. […]
New green community shop for Cornish village
Work has started on a new ‘super green’ building for the only shop in the North Cornwall village of St Tudy, thanks to financial assistance from us. The community-owned shop is expected to move into the new premises at the end of August. The new shop will provide a Post Office facility, and will stock […]
Wood recycling at the core of new social enterprise hub
Members of Somerset Wood Recycling help move wood into their new premises. A green enterprise that provides opportunities for disadvantaged people has moved into larger premises which it plans to develop as a new ‘social enterprise hub’ in North Somerset. We provided a loan to Somerset Wood Recycling to cover the costs of moving in […]
Old bank becomes community business hub
A social enterprise in south east Cornwall is moving forward with plans to renovate an old bank to create an enterprise hub, after receiving a loan from Co-operative & Community Finance. Point Europa, a membership organisation with charitable status, provides job advice, training, and support in the isolated rural areas of the Rame Peninsula, including […]
Building a bigger premises
A community village shop in Herefordshire is moving forward with plans to build bigger premises thanks to financial assistance from Co-operative & Community Finance. Whitbourne Village Community Shop, near Worcester, is currently renting a lean-to on the side of a pub and only has a very small 12 square metres sales area. The plan is […]
200 attend community shop opening
A purpose built community shop opened in Milland, West Sussex in December after receiving a loan from Co-operative & Community Finance to assist with building works. The Milland Community Shop was opened following a survey in June 2010 which showed that about half of the 1000 local residents would use a community shop two or […]
Alternative option for wood disposal
A social enterprise in Oxfordshire aims to increase the amount of wood being reused and recycled rather than being sent to landfill sites, following a loan for equipment purchases and working capital from Co-operative & Community Finance. Oxford Wood Recycling operates a waste wood collection service from an industrial unit in Didcot, collecting timber from […]
Community shop opens in new premises
A community shop opened in brand new premises in Wiltshire in December following a loan from Co-operative & Community Finance. The Ashton Keynes Village Shop, which is run by a community co-operative, was developed after a privately owned store faced closure when the owner wished to retire. Following a survey from 1600 local residents 85% […]