News
SURVEY – Understanding a Maturing Community Shares Market
The Community Shares Unit (CSU), along with a number of partners, is carrying out research to improve understanding of community shares. This is the first in-depth study of the community shares market since 2014. The Survey, ‘Understanding a Maturing Community Shares Market‘ is now live and the CSU are looking to hear from representatives from […]
New year, new kitchen, new supportive finance
Significant building work to improve the facilities of a community-owned pub in rural Staffordshire is well underway, with support from Co-operative & Community Finance, Co-op Loan Fund, the Reach Fund and local grant providers. The Royal Oak in Rushton Spencer, near Leek, which had closed after a period of neglect, was bought and re-opened by […]
Old Ship to relaunch in 2020
Co-operative & Community Finance is helping the enterprising community in the Rame Peninsular of south east Cornwall with the next stage of the rebuilding of a derelict former pub. Work is about to start on the building and equipping of a commercial kitchen at the back of the large site. The aim is for the […]
All we want for Christmas
The carols are in the air, the sprouts are on the grocery shelves – it can only mean one thing. Christmas. In these uncertain times it can feel hard to think too far ahead, but we spoke to the team and asked what they’d be asking Santa for. Can you spot the theme running through […]
Apply to the Co-op Foundation by 31 December for interest-free loans
Last chance for a little while for UK based Community Spaces to apply for a loan of up to £50,000 to grow their trading activities and become more sustainable. Over the past two years, the Co-op Foundation has awarded more than £2.1 million in interest-free loans and grants to help community spaces all over the UK build their trading activities and become […]
Happy Human Rights Day!
Today, 10th December, is Human Rights Day, a United Nations designated Day. The date was chosen to honour the UN’s adoption and proclamation, shortly after World War II, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This was the first global articulation of human rights. Many women were involved in its […]
Congratulations Neroche Woodlanders!
The Somerset community woodland was named national winner of the Connecting the Community Award, which we were proud to sponsor, at the Plunkett Foundation Rural Community Business Awards 2019 Neroche Woodlanders – a social enterprise based at Young Wood on the edge of the Blackdown Hills – has beaten competition from across the country to […]
We are delighted to be a sponsor of the Plunkett Foundation Rural Community Business Awards 2019.
We are thrilled to sponsor the ‘Connecting the Community’ Award in the Plunkett Foundation Rural Community Business Awards 2019 – good luck to the shortlisted businesses in this category, Thurlton Community Store CIC, Trawden Forest Community Shop And Hub and Neroche Woodlanders Ltd. In total, 21 amazing organisations including community shops, pubs farms and even a […]
Seven Cooperative and Community Finance Borrowers on the Plunkett Shortlist!
The shortlist is out and we send our congratulations to all 21 finalists in the Plunkett Foundation 2019 Rural Community Business Awards! We are particularly pleased to see seven organisations that we’ve lent to in the past and who are still going strong! We proud to have supported Community Shops Broadhempston Community Shop and Post […]
Responsible Finance as Economic Development – A Business Breakfast
Are you interested in how responsible and sustainable finance can be used to make economic development work for people and the environment, as well as for profit? We are and we’ll be joining Triodos Bank and Finance Bristol & Bath for a business breakfast to discuss it all on the 4th of December – you’re […]
What a difference a year makes!
A year ago, Southampton’s favourite bookshop, co-operatively run October Books, moved into their new premises. We were delighted to support them in their aims and we’ve caught up with them recently to see what a difference a year makes. October Books has been serving the good people of Southampton with radical and alternative books, wholefoods […]
Applications are open for Community Business Trade Up Programme
Applications are now open for a brilliant support programme for community-focused projects, funded by our friends Power To Change and the School for Social Entrepreneurs Do you run an organisation or project that exists to improve your local neighbourhood, village or town? Do you run it like a business, but re-invest profits to benefit your local […]