News
Be the change you want to see in the world
Do you want to be part of the shift towards more co-operative, democratic business? Why not join us, this Co-op Fortnight? Here at Co-operative and Community Finance, we are the lender for social purpose. We exist to help people take control of their economic lives and create social benefit. We exclusively serve the co-operative and […]
The results are in – and they’re fantastic!
Thank you to everyone who took part in our Annual Survey! We’re delighted to say that the results are in and they make for enjoyable reading after what’s been a difficult year all round. This year we sent out our survey with sister company the Co-op Loan Fund and received our highest ever number of […]
Happy World Environment Day!
World Environment Day is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. This World Environment Day we are taking a moment to reimagine a world, better than this one. Co-ops and Community business are part of the world we are building – we are growing, with them for a fairer […]
Working in partnership – with the Co-op Foundation
Most people know Co-op and Community Finance as the lender for social purpose, providing loan finance to co-ops, employee-owned and community-owned businesses for nearly 50 years. But that’s not all we do! We also provide a comprehensive range of fund management services to organisations that share our values. We provide tailored loan management, back office, […]
Happy Volunteers Week!
This week from the 1st to the 7th June, it’s Volunteers Week! Volunteers Week is an annual celebration of all that the millions of volunteers in the UK give to their communities. Their work is often unseen – or seen but not seen as volunteering – and over the last year, as Covid has hit […]
Ethics and employee ownership are still in style
Scott Bader is celebrating 100 years of existence, and 70 years of Employee Ownership in 2021. Today, Scott Bader is a global chemical company. Back then, the company Scott Bader was the sole agent for a Swiss manufacturer of Celluloid and the founder, Ernest Bader, a Quaker, believed that ethical and moral action to improve […]
Community secures keys to The Locks Inn
Residents of the Waveney Valley on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk rallied together at impressive speed despite the restrictions of a global pandemic to purchase and renovate iconic riverside pub The Locks Inn. The community benefit society that now owns the popular ex-mill and lock keeper’s cottage turned public house at Geldeston raised over […]
Ever wanted to own a farm? You can with Kindling Trust!
We have been so proud to work with Manchester based Veg Box People and we’re thrilled to hear that The Kindling Trust, the co-operative to which they are connected, is buying a community owned farm. Even more excitingly, you can be one of the owners! Saturday 3rd April saw the launch of their campaign to attract community […]
Save the Date! Our AGM is on 23rd June, online
We are delighted to announce that the ICOF Ltd and associated companies AGM’s will be held online on Wednesday 23rd June 2021 Please watch this space for more information and joining instructions. We look forward to seeing you as we look back on the last year. First posted 19th Mar 2021
RECRUITING: New trustees to create a more diverse board
We are recruiting new trustees to create a more diverse board: We need you to help grow the co-op and community business sectors in 2021 and beyond. What we do: ICOF Ltd trading as Co-operative and Community Finance or CCF is the Lender for Social Purpose, lending to ethical businesses since 1973. We offer fair, […]
New platform co-ops / community shares support available
Two new programmes delivered by Co-operatives UK are now open and accepting applications The UnFound Accelerator, is a 10-week business support programme for teams at the early stage of setting up their platform co-operative. A Platform co-operative is a democratically owned and controlled business that uses an online platform or mobile app to trade, connect […]
What do you need? Tell us in our Annual Survey
Calling all borrowers, partners and friends! Will you help us understand the needs of the co-operative and community business sectors? Please complete our Annual Survey – it should take under 10 minutes and you could win a £50 co-operative bookstore voucher! Each year we send out a short survey to help us understand the co-operative […]