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Early Spring update
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Stir to Action Festival - tickets on sale now
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After many years of supporting Stir To Action, we’re delighted to announce that once again we’re one of the sponsors of this years Festival, with our sister organisation, the Co-op Loan Fund
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The ABCs Festival will be a two-day interactive event at Bristol’s Arts Mansion at Ashton Court from 10-11 July 2024.
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Always an inspiring event, providing not only great insights but the opportunity to make great connections – we’ll be there. Join us and hundreds of other people who are transforming their local economy and participate in practical workshops, inspirational panels, and ideas surgeries.
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The evening will see entertainment from live bands and DJs from across the UK.
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Happy International Women's Day!
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As a social investor, we see - daily - the power of investment to drive real change, at a local and national scale. We know that only when all members of a community are involved in driving change, can change come for all.
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Read more on our website about the UN theme for this year and some of the incredible women who have been part of our story over the last fifty years,
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Apply now to be part of the next barefoot training programme
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Are you ready to join a new generation of advisors who are committed to democracy in the workplace and local communities?
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Apply now to join the next cohort of co-operative and community business advisors on this six-month programme.
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Still time to apply to the Energy Resilience Fund
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Does your co-operatives, community businesses or social enterprise in England own your building or have a significant lease (12 years or more)?
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Are you a high energy user looking to retrofit energy generating/saving technology to help you stabilise or reduce energy costs?
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Tickets on sale for 10th anniversary of UK's first community owned pub/venue
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10 YEARS A CO-OP is a five-day, multi-genre music festival that celebrates the tenth anniversary of The Globe in Newcastle being community owned.
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Ten years ago a failing pub, today it is a thriving grassroots venue that holds over 30 gigs a month and hosts workshops and courses for musicians, songwriters and dancers.
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Equality Diversity and Inclusion
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The Community Shares Impact Report from Co-operatives UK is out. Like us, they have signed the Diversity Forum Manifesto and they have reported against various equality measures. The full report is here - we pull out some key stats below.
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Of the 25 organisations provided with early-stage pre-grant support:
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- 28% were ’unrepresented or excluded’ communities
- 16% were racially minoritised communities
- 44% were younger people
- 20% were communities facing system inequality
- 20% were organisations tackling the climate crisis
Of the organisations receiving development grant support to prepare share offers
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- 54% had some minoritised ethnicities representation
- 18% were represented by minoritised ethnicities
The Booster Fund targets less affluent areas where support can make the biggest difference. It uses the Indicees of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) to identify these areas.
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- 50% of the investments were made in IMD 1-3 areas
- 93% of the investments were made in IMD 1-7 areas
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Hot off the press
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Here are a few news stories that have caught our eye recently
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BREAKING NEWS: We've just heard that our borrowers The Sir Walter Ralight Community Owned Pub in Devon have been awarded a prestigious AA Rosette! Congratulations to all the team!
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The 2023 issue of the World Cooperative Monitor report is out - it explores the economic and social impact of the largest cooperatives and mutuals worldwide
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Equal Care Co-op and Suma to star in a documentary highlighting the power of co-operative businesses.
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A “Regional Retrofit Advisory Board” is coming to West Yorkshire
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West Midlands Ownership Hub to launch in May
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Events round up
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The Co-operative Retail Conference runs from the 15-16 March in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. This year, diversity, sustainability, crime, care and AI are on the agenda.
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