Co-operative News

21/12/2024

The night the lights were lit: "On 21 December in 1844, the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened a small store in England with five items and little fanfare. Thus humbly began the modern co-operative movement. Let’s step back into that time to get a sense of how co-operative history was made."

On the 180th anniversary of the UK co-op movement, David J. Thompson tells a co-op Christmas story that has impacted the whole world:

David J. Thompson on the birthplace of the co-op in 1844

20/12/2024

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has set out plans for a major reorganisation of local government, which would give every region a mayor with extra powers – but also merge authorities in two-tier areas to streamline services, a plan which has implications for a number of councils

Angela Rayner's announcement includes a right to buy assets for communities - and the merger of district councils under mayoral authorities

20/12/2024

£2.6m fundraiser launched by UK’s first co-op train operator, Go_op

Go-op, which aims to run rail services between Swindon and Taunton by May 2026, is looking to raise £2.6m

18/12/2024

Danish potato starch co-operative KMC has reported a 6% increase in revenue to DKK 3.6m (£4m) for the 2023/34 financial year, driven by growth in potato starch sales and stable production capacity.

The potato starch supplier, which has opened a new research centre, says the growth is down to increased market share

18/12/2024

The Business Support for Co‑ops programme, a partnership between Co-operatives UK and the Co-op Bank, has given direct support to 500 co-ops in nine years, a report reveals. The Bank has pumped more than £3.2m into the programme since its launch in 2016, which Co‑operatives UK says has enabled it to deliver a wide range of initiatives, including expert business support, awareness campaigns, workshops, and the development of innovative tools and accelerators.

The £3.2m partnership between the Co-op Bank and Co-operatives UK has delivered advice, campaigns, workshops, tools and accelerators

17/12/2024

Central Co-op’s funeral business has launched an online store offering a range of memorialisation gifts. Set up in collaboration with the Lovely Gift Group, it is the first fully transactional online platform for such products to be offered by a funeralcare business.

'This collection of keepsakes helps keep their memory close in a way that feels right for each individual'

17/12/2024

The Irish credit union sector has hailed proposals by the Central Bank which would allow it to almost triple the amount offered for mortgages and business loans. The Central Bank is planning to ease lending limits on the sector, from the current €2.9bn to €8.6bn. New rules would allow a credit union to lend up to 30% of its total assets for housing and up to 10% of its assets for business loans.

The proposals, welcomed by trade bodies CUDA and ILCU, would triple the amount the sector is allowed to offer on mortgages and business loans

17/12/2024

International Labour Organization signs deal to provide training and data support to Jordan’s

'By working together, we can create a co-op movement that contributes to building the foundation for a brighter and more just future'

17/12/2024

Glasgow Credit Union has announced a record £4.6m return to its members following the approval of a 3% annual dividend at its AGM.

The £4.6m return to more than 62,000 members is the highest in the organisation's 35-year history

16/12/2024

North Lincolnshire Community Energy is running a £700,000 share offer, supported by Energy4All, to expand portfolio of rooftop solar on schools, community and public buildings

North Lincolnshire Community Energy wants to raise £700,000 for rooftop solar on schools, community and public buildings

16/12/2024

Doug Field, chief executive of East of England Co-op, has announced he is leaving the organisation, with COO Andy Rigby appointed interim CEO for 12 months.

Chief operating officer Andy Rigby has been appointed to the top role for an interim 12-month period after Doug Field stepped down

16/12/2024

Agri apex Copa Cogeca has welcomed European Commission proposals on unfair trade practices and the common market organisation of agricultural products

Copa-Cogeca has welcomed proposals on unfair trade practices and the common market organisation of agricultural products

13/12/2024

Community Energy England (CEE) hosted its annual awards in Bristol last month, honouring successes in categories such as fuel poverty, collaboration and innovation. Winners include Bristol Energy Co-op, The Midcounties Co-operative’s joint venture Younity, and the Co-operative Party

Winners include Bristol Energy Co-op, Midcounties' joint venture with Octopus – Younity – and the Co-op Party

13/12/2024

The four Cooperative Hall of Fame inductees for 2025 have been announced by the US Cooperative Development Foundation: Lori Capouch, North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives; Randy Lee, PCC Community Markets; Tom Webb, International Centre for Co-operative Management and, in the Unsung Hero category, Estelle Witherspoon, Freedom Quilting Bee.

The 2025 inductees are: Lori Capouch, Randy Lee, Tom Webb, and Estelle Witherspoon

11/12/2024

A global surge of refugees and migrants seeking economic opportunities makes the need for inclusive, democratic and models more pressing than ever. As the International Year of Co-operatives gets closer, Trebor Scholz, Anne-Pauline de Cler, Michelle Lee, Morshed Mannan and Stefano Tortorici look at the need to reform law and the way inclusive business models like co-ops and member-managed limited liability companies can address global challenges around the .

Trebor Scholz, Anne-Pauline De Cler, Michelle Lee, Morshed Mannan, Stefano Tortorici, look to a new legal framework for co-op ownership

10/12/2024

are well known for their resilience, particularly in times of crisis – but this resilience is being tested in after a year of war, where damage to infrastructure, the deaths of members and leaders, and a squeeze on resources are making it difficult for the co-op sector to continue. Can co-ops survive this Israel-Gaza war? asks Anca Voinea.

Read her interview with Edin Abu Taha, chair of the Union of Housing Cooperatives (UHC) in , here: https://www.thenews.coop/can-co-ops-survive-this-israel-gaza-war/

09/12/2024

The UK co-op movement is mourning the loss of Emma Howard, who died last month, aged 35, following a short illness. Emma sat on the board of East of England Co-op, was vice-chair of Co-operatives UK, and was part of the Open Data Services Co-operative.

An intrepid explorer, thoughtful co-operator and independent woman, she inspired all who knew her and will be hugely missed. Read the Co-op News tribute to Emma here - with contributions from Joy Burnford, Mandy Errington, Sally Chicken (EoE), Rose Marley and Cheryl Barrott (CUK) – and please share your own memories below, which we will include in Co-op News next month.
https://www.thenews.coop/remembering-emma-howard/

04/12/2024

All this week, charity Woodcraft Folk is holding a fundraiser to make next year's centenary summer camp accessible to all

The youth charity it will use the cash to lower financial barriers so everyone has the change to attend