Co-operatives UK

Worker co-op brings children’s authors into UK libraries to inspire young readers Public libraries have long been places where stories begin, but a national initiative is helping them spark something even bigger. In this guest blog, GLL's Rebecca Gediking shares how one of…

"Working with the GLL Literary Foundation has already made me feel like I am back where I belong," says Nadine Wild-Palmer, GLL Literary Foundation 2025 author.

Read the full blog and see what co-operative impact looks like: buff.ly/KediY7Z

#WorldBookDay #Libraries #Coops

An image showcasing a stall from GLL's Literary Foundation authors with Rebecca Gediking (centre) , GLL Libraries Services Director (and blog author), and Jenny Hawke, GLL Children's Librarian and Vice Chair of the GLL Literary Foundation.

GLL exists to make life in communities better - spreading health, social and economic opportunity.This is what co-operatives do best: reinvest for community benefit, back talent, and strengthen the places that help us learn and thrive.

The first Literary Foundation cohort, pictured at a launch event in 2025.

Our partner member GLL, a worker co-op, is bringing children’s authors into libraries across the UK through the GLL Literary Foundation. Creating what Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho calls “life-changing” moments for young readers.

GLL Literary Foundation supported author Jane Porter.

World Book Day is the perfect time to celebrate libraries' impact AND the #coops that strengthen them, making a difference in people's lives 🧵 👇

ICYMI: Our letter to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero @ed-miliband.bsky.social welcoming the #LocalPowerPlan 👏

@rosemarley.bsky.social @jameslwright.bsky.social @energy4alluk.bsky.social

"The levels of ambition and funding in the #LocalPowerPlan are like nothing the UK community energy sector, or the wider co-operative movement, has ever seen before... We look forward to hearing how we, our members and our networks can get involved." #coops #comshares

Our letter stressed the importance of our unique #comshares investment model being able to simultaneously mobilise social and financial capital in communities and multiply the impact of public funds many times over while building inclusive democratic ownership. #LocalPowerPlan

Last week, Co-operatives UK – along with
@energy4alluk.bsky.social and Energy Local CIC – wrote to the Sec of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, @Ed_Miliband, and Dan McGrail, CEO Great British Energy, about the recently #LocalPowerPlan.

@rosemarley.bsky.social @jameslwright.bsky.social

From governance and HR to role-specific advice and guides, this page features the services and resources co-operatives and community benefit societies rely on.

Find the perfect resource for you >> buff.ly/aoublh0

#coops #resources #advice #guidance

Membership Valuable resources and advice Discover what resources our members value the most. Explore our most popular tools, all in one place. Co-operatives UK

Want to see the resources our members value the most?

We've brought together our most trusted advice, toolkits and support services in one place, so you can quickly find what will make the biggest difference to your co-operative or community-owned business.

What is a Community Energy Share Offer? – A Guide - SELCE We’re a co-op helping communities in South East London to bring solar energy to their homes, their schools, and their community centres. We also give out free advice on energy bills, to households in…

"Community ownership is an incredibly stable way to run businesses. @cooperativesuk.bsky.social ran a survey and they believe that 92% of all businesses that have used community shares are still trading."

Thanks to Brightelm for sponsoring the awards, and to everyone who helped make Congress such a memorable event. We’re keeping everything crossed for this evening.

#coops #events #award

Congratulations and best of luck to our fellow nominees: Aviation Services, British Coatings Federation, British Florist Association and TIGA.

Held at Rochdale Town Hall, last year’s Co-op Congress was a powerful celebration of co-operation, and it’s fantastic to see it recognised on a national stage.

We’re delighted to share that Co-op Congress 2025 has been shortlisted for Event of the Year at tonight’s Trade Association Awards - @taforum.bsky.social.

Thanks to being a co‑op, they’re now attracting clients who share their values. 🤩

🔎 Read their inspiring story: buff.ly/VbR6jhw

#Coops #WorkerCoops #EthicalDesign #SustainableArchitecture

... delivered by Co-operatives UK in partnership with The Co-operative Bank. Thanks to tailored governance advice, access to peer mentors from an established co‑op and expert guidance, every step of the way, Incremental Architecture successfully aligned their structure with their mission. 👍️ (2/3)

🌱 Aligning structure with values. 💚

Meet Incremental Architecture – whose mission is rooted in shared ownership and community impact. After staring life as a company, they became a worker co‑operative – with help from Business Support for Co‑ops... 🧵 (1/3)

We’ve produced guidance on how to respond, covering suggestions for:
🔺Where to focus
🔺Issues to cover
🔺Ways to align with sector insights and priorities

Read our draft, add your support and submit your response >> buff.ly/ODiJB03

Call for Evidence Read our draft Add your support submit your response Read our draft response to government's landmark call for evidence on support for co-operatives.

Thanks to valuable input from all different kinds of co‑operatives, we’ve published our first draft response.

There’s still time to submit your own response directly – before the closing date on Wednesday, 18 February. ⬇️

You can still get tickets for: Future Co-ops 2026: Power to the People.

📍Birmingham, 27–28 February 2026.

It's a two-day conference exploring how collective action & co-operation can rebuild trust & deliver real power to communities.

Tickets: buff.ly/7ydLFMt
@coopfutures.bsky.social

Image of UK Parliament.

A huge thank you to our members who’ve helped shape our sector response to the government’s call for evidence.

This is a real chance to influence national policy that can unlock co-operative growth and deliver more resilient local economies.📈

Last chance, have your say >> buff.ly/ODiJB03

Draft response to government's call for evidence We have produced a comprehensive draft response to government’s call for evidence on business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals. This page shares our proposed response, invites…

"This is a rare opportunity to develop national policy on critical enablers such as co‑operative business support and access to finance." James Wright, Policy Lead, Co‑operatives UK. 📣

Read our proposed response, and add your support: buff.ly/ODiJB03

Huge congratulations too, to fellow Booster investees and Co-operatives UK members Holmfirth Tech and @yorspace.bsky.social, also shortlisted.

Read the Bramley Baths story: buff.ly/KE92uS9

#CommunityShares #SocialInvestment #Coops #CommunityOwnership

Bramley Baths – Community power making a big splash! With the help of a successful community share offer, a vital local facility in a deprived Leeds neighbourhood is now getting the TLC it needs to make it even better for the people it serves.

Bramley Baths shows what’s possible when communities come together, with a successful community share offer supported by the Community Shares Booster Fund, and the move to become a community benefit society.

A graphic saying: SEYH - Awards 2025 Thursday 26 March 2026, Leeds. We're a finalist! Shortlisted for the Social Investment Award, Sponsored by Better Society Capital. Event Sponsor ESP. Graphic on the left showing the awards.

We’re delighted to share that we’ve been shortlisted for the Social Investment Award at the Social Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber (SEYH) Awards, alongside Bramley Baths.

📥️ Sign up for future emails so you do not miss important updates, opportunities and deadlines >> buff.ly/TOyuAjA

#Coops #Guidance #HelpfulTips

Updates: Stay informed, get involved Our email bulletins keep you connected to everything your co-operative or community business needs to thrive.

🚨 Our latest newsletter is out!

Get policy updates, practical guidance, training dates, toolkits and inspiring case studies all in one email.

Read the latest newsletter here >> buff.ly/6p2EmPS

Deadline Sunday 8 February: We're recruiting a Co-operative Development Officer to assist with the planning and delivery of events, business support programmes, and partnership activities.

See 👇 for full details.
buff.ly/6rmK4or

The first are being delivered with Greater Lincolnshire Social Economy Academy (GLSEA) at lincolnbishopuni.bsky.social, as part of their focus on #coops and #mutuals:
👉 Wednesday 4 February, 12-2pm, online
👉 Thursday 12 March, 12-1pm, online

Find out more and book: buff.ly/daoEPmt