News
Brexit. Co-operative Principles in an Unprincipled World.
It is ironic now, as we allegedly arrive at the Brexit endgame, as we stand a week away from the official leave date on the 29th March, to think that the EU was originally developed after the Second World War to encourage economic and political co-operation. Political co-operation, there’s something we’ve missed recently this side […]
Building a Co-operative Future
For over 45 years, we have supported hundreds of businesses ranging from small community‑run enterprises to large award‑winning organisations – we sometimes describe this as ‘lending good money to nice people doing good things’. As we were discussing within the team recently, this all pretty much started off as a conversation over someone’s kitchen table, a […]
Another 5 year struggle ends in victory
The people of a small rural village near Haverhill, Suffolk, are today celebrating the community purchase of the local pub, which has been closed for five years. The Three Horseshoes in Helions Bumpstead (population 440) joins the growing number of community-owned pubs. There are now 79 trading in England and Wales and several more getting […]
Tim Reflects on Future Co-ops, two weeks on !
So, how do we make Co-op Deserts Bloom? That was the topic and challenge presented to us at the 2019 Future Co-ops conference we sponsored this year. As Coop News had already reported, the conference this year was designed to be one of ‘active participation’ led by Think Digital, a department of the Central England […]
Your story – someone else’s inspiration?
Over the last 45 years we’ve helped 100’s of co-operatives or member-owned organisations access the funds they needed to grow, develop and progress their ambitions. From circuses to veg boxes, housing co-ops to community pubs, we’re helping people build the communities and services they want and need. Through 2019, we’d love to share stories of how these […]
Proud to be a co-op!
We’re proud to be a co-op and we’re joining members of Co-operatives UK to shout about our co-operative structure, values and principles! At a recent meeting, we got our hands on a copy of this fabulous poster by Creative Coop which celebrates the principles upon which all co-operatives are built. Can you see how proud we […]
Can co-operative deserts bloom?
Why is it that some places seem to have active, thriving co-operative scenes? What alchemy happens in those places that adds up to a varied scene of more, and better, co-ops, mutuals and community enterprises? How can we learn from those places to help other areas – your area? – to create and sustain equally […]
Research shows that community pubs continue to thrive
Local pubs owned as community businesses are continuing to thrive where private enterprise has failed, according to a report launched by the Plunkett Foundation. Community pubs are stronger than ever, with interest continuing to build within the thriving sector. A comprehensive report on community pubs was published yesterday, on the 21st January 2019, by Plunkett […]
A Slightly Braver Mutual New World!
The FCA soft-launched a new Mutuals Society Portal a month ago, announcing it publicly on the 16th January. Given how much we have moaned about the limitations of the Mutuals Section over the years, the FCA asked if CCF would like to try out their new Portal before the full launch. On the face it of […]
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year everybody! With the sprouts and sofas behind us, we hope you had a great break and are back refreshed and revitalised as we roll full steam ahead into 2019. What a lot there is to look forward to! At Co-op and Community Finance, it’s our privilege to work with so many organisations […]
Award-winning garden co-op for disabled workers to open cafe
On Christmas Eve an award-winning plant nursery, 60% of whose workers have disabilities, completed the purchase of Victorian lodge house which it plans to convert into a traditional tea room with the help of a loan from Co-operative & Community Finance. For Bishopwearmouth Co-operative, in Sunderland, this was the perfect end to a very successful […]
New £2.2m Funding Announced for Community Run Pubs
Co-operative & Community Finance welcomes the announcement of a new funding programme that will build on the success of the More Than a Pub programme launched in 2016. Co-operative & Community Finance is one of the key partners in the current programme that has introduced tens of thousands of people to the benefits of community […]