Co-operative News

29/10/2024

In a bid to drive and improve financial wellbeing, a group of UK have been trialling a community development model which has been run successfully for several decades in the US. Now, with input from US trade body Inclusiv, ABCUL – the Association of British Credit Unions – has produced a white paper and hosted a recent launch event in Liverpool.

More here

Sector body Abcul has been piloting the model with eight of its members acting as pathfinders

29/10/2024

Co-op News holds its AGM on Tue 12 Nov 2024, 6:30-8PM GMT.

The event is free and will take place online - click here for details of the agenda and how to attend

Following the postponement from August as detailed in Co-op News, we look forward to welcoming you to the Co-op Press AGM on Tu...

18/10/2024

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres looks for ways to grow social and solidarity economy in new report, with case studies including Mondragon and Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation

The report was prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy

18/10/2024

The Labour government has pledged to double the UK's economy - but how should this be done?

At an event hosted by the Co-op Group at its HQ in Manchester, the Co-operative Party explored ways to grow the sector

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the event that doubling the UK co-operative and mutual sector is just the beginning

16/10/2024

The Co-op Group is to fit 300 front-of-store digital media screens to “turbo-charge its retail media offering”, taking the total number of screens to over 9,000 across its store estate. The rollout – in collaboration with installation partners, Commercial, and software partners, Grassfish – will see digital screens introduced to 300 of the Group’s highest footfall, urban locations

The Group's Co-op Media Network aims to “help brands reach new and wider audiences, while improving advertising relevancy for its shoppers”

16/10/2024

Westmill Solar Co-op and REScoop.eu have completed a pioneering cross-border co-operative investment, in partnership with energy co-ops from Spain, France, Belgium and the UK. By borrowing from other co-operatives - in line with the movement's principle 6, co-operation among co-ops – rather than traditional banks, Westmill says it is joining a network of like-minded European communities committed to sustainable investment.

The Oxfordshire community energy solar farm has arranged a £5m loan from a network of European co-ops, 'putting it on a firm foundation'

09/10/2024

Graciela Fernández, president of ICA Americas () is stepping down for personal reasons.

“I have enjoyed being president since the day I made my commitment. This is a decision taken with absolute peace of mind," she said.

Fernández, who has been at the helm of ICA Americas’ board for six years, is the first woman to hold this position.

09/10/2024

Cooperation among cooperatives: As the United States braces for this week, co-ops in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Tennessee are continuing to work on restoring power to members affected by – with the support of co-ops in other states less affected by the storm.

Full story 👉 https://www.thenews.coop/hurricane-helene-us-electric-co-ops-join-efforts-to-restore-power/


NRECA

Co-op members in North and South Carolina, where Helene landed as a tropical stormm were among the most damaged.

08/10/2024

Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, has joined the board of the International Cooperative Alliance. “The challenges we face – from climate change to inequality – require co-operative solutions that transcend borders, and the ICA offers a unique platform for this exchange,” she said.

Marley will replace Ben Reid, who is stepping down for personal reasons, for the two remaining years of his term.

08/10/2024

The Co-op Group plans to fit at up to 700 sites across its food, funerals and logistic portfolio, over the next three years. It hopes to install up to 76,000 panels, with the goal of generating 30,000 MWh of electricity, as it works towards net zero

It hopes to install up to 76,000 panels, with the goal of generating 30,000 MWh of electricity, enough to power around 12,500 homes.

02/10/2024

Ali Kurji left Uganda in 1968 to train as an accountant; last week, he retired as CEO of the Heart of England Co-operative after 42 years with the organisation.

“I will always feel privileged to have been able to bring the advantages of the co-operative movement to an ever-increasing audience. I’ll look back on my professional life with so much gratitude and satisfaction.”

Read more about his extraordinary journey here: https://www.thenews.coop/ali-kurji-retires-the-end-of-an-extraordinary-journey/

Images: Ali Kurji; With colleagues at the staff farewell lunch held at the Heart of England Co-op Support Centre in Foleshill, Coventry; Saying an emotional goodbye to his parents before leaving Uganda for the last time to begin a new life in England.

02/10/2024

The Midcounties Co-operative has launched a new fund which allows members to apply for grants to support local causes. The society said the 'Doing Good Together Fund' was created in response to members, who wanted to be able to give back more to their local communities.

Find out more about their reasons for setting up the fund 👇

The Midcounties Co-operative, which operates 218 food stores across the West Midlands, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire alongside travel, childcare, energy and broadband and mobile businesses, has launched a new fund which allows members to apply for grants to support local

02/10/2024

Have you had your say on the laws that govern the UK co-op movement?
Last year, then-finance minister Andrew Griffin announced that the Law Commission would undertake a review of law – the first since 1893. Now it's your chance to share your views. Find out more about the review, and how to get involved at https://www.thenews.coop/have-your-say-on-the-laws-that-govern-the-uk-co-op-movement/

Co-operatives UK International Cooperative Alliance

01/10/2024

💬 “It takes an ecosystem to build a movement. We are a movement that is bigger than we’ve ever been before, with more momentum than we’ve ever had before” ~ Julian S. McKinley, a co-executive director at The Democracy at Work Institute

McKinley was speaking at the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives conference in last month, where co-ops gathered to celebrate the past and plan the future. Did you know? There are now 751 worker co-ops across the US, three times more than a decade ago!

Find out more about the conference here 👇

Anca Voinea and Miles Hadfield report from the 2024 USFWC conference

01/10/2024

Lincolnshire Co-op has replaced the term ‘dividend’ with ‘cashback’ when talking about member rewards. They said they spoke with members, customers and people who don't shop with them and have made the change so it's easier to understand.

The society has reviewed its language following research with members and customers

30/09/2024

“In recent times we have seen a financial crisis, a housing crisis, an energy crisis, a pandemic, a summer of riots. After each, we say to one and other, ‘surely there is a co-operative, community answer?’ We have one, it already exists, it just needs proper support."

There were a lot of co-op conversations at the . Leading this was Co-operative Party general secretary, Joe Fortune, who called on co-operators to take advantage of a "once in a generation opportunity" to build the co-op sector and make the most of its potential.

Read the full story 👇
https://www.thenews.coop/calls-for-co-operation-at-the-2024-labour-conference/

Now is a 'once in a generation' opportunity for co-ops, delegates hear

25/09/2024

The Co-op Group has returned to profit in the first half of the year as growth in membership and its quick commerce business offset cost inflation and losses from shoplifting.

The retailer recorded an underlying pre-tax profit of £3m for the six months, up from a £9m loss in the first half of 2023

25/09/2024

Scotmid Coop has defied a wet summer and low consumer confidence to deliver a £2.1m trading profit for the 26 weeks to 27 July, up £0.6m on the six months to 2023.

The retail society defied a wet summer and low consumer confidence to deliver a £2.1m trading profit for the 26 weeks to 27 July

25/09/2024

Report from the Labour Party conference, where leaders of the and sector met for fringe sessions to discuss ways the government can make good on its promise to double the size of the UK hashtag and mutual economy - from encouraging community wealth building through procurement to removing legislative barriers.

Co-operatives UK Co-op Co-operative Party

Starmer's government now has to deliver on its pledge to grow the UK co-op sector

19/09/2024

The UK’s 9,300 co-operatives and mutuals have a combined income of £165.7bn, according to the latest Co-operative and Mutual Economy Report, published by sector apex Co-operatives UK. It sets a benchmark for the Keir Starmer government, which has pledged to double the UK's economy

The report sets a baseline from which the government's commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutual economy can be measured

18/09/2024

The Co-op Group has launched a 24-hour service in city centre stores in London, Manchester and Leeds as it continues to pursue younger shoppers. Groceries will be delivered through the convenience retailer’s ecommerce partners Deliveroo, Just Eat Takeaway.com and Uber Eats. 'Societal behaviours including changing lifestyles and shift working is increasing the requirement for online groceries to be delivered quickly and conveniently at non-traditional times of the day,' says ecommerce director Chris Conway

Co-op Group launches 24-hour deliveries from city centre stores in Leeds, Manchester and London in a bid to woo younger customers

18/09/2024

East of England Co-op has announced the latest round of its Community Cares Fund, and says more than 8,000 people will benefit from £110,000 worth of grants. 'We believe in the power of community and the positive impact that collective efforts can bring,” says CEO Doug Field

More than 8,000 people will benefit from £110,000 worth of grants from the retailer's Community Cares Fund

14/09/2024

Cooperatives Europe warns that Mario Draghi's plan to boost the competitiveness of the European Union must have room for principles and doesn’t inadvertently disadvantage the model

The report, which does not mention co-ops, explores the challenges faced by the industry and companies in the single market

13/09/2024

Ripple Energy co-op is calling on Keir Starmer's government to ease financial barriers to energy membership – including an end to tax penalties on bill savings earned by community energy co-owners.

The co-op wants ministers to remove tax penalties on bill savings for citizens who own shares in community energy co-ops

12/09/2024

As the UK exploded into riots in the wake of the mass stabbing attack in Southport, which left three children dead, growing unease over the influence of social media came to a head, and there was an exodus of users from controversial platform X

What should co-operators, who use the site to communicate their values, speak to their members and promote their services, do?

How should ethical organisations respond to the changing tone of social media platforms?