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Just 51 days after getting the keys to the Pengwern Arms Hotel, a team of volunteers at Llan Ffestiniog, near Blaenau Ffestiniog, has the once run-down pub up and running again.

In January 2009, the 300-year-old inn that stands on the square opposite the church, closed its doors. Now, two years later, villagers are preparing for the official opening in June following a massive community effort.

The villagers have set up Pengwern Cymunedol Cyf, a co-operative incorporated as an Industrial and Provident Society and received support from the Welsh Assembly Government, Tai Eryri Housing Association, Wales Co-operative Centre and Gwynedd Council.

In a test run for the official opening, last weekend shareholders and helpers were invited to check out the facilities and enjoy free beer. Volunteer staff wore black shirts with the Pengwern logo and in the cellar were many barrels including casks of real ale from the Purple Moose Brewery.

Internet users can follow the latest chapter of the inspiring story of community spirit at http://voff-snowdonia.blogspot.com/2011/05/y-pengwern-opens.html.

For more information please contact Mr Sel Williams on Tel: 0776 049 0081

Time to get serious: international lessons for developing public service mutuals

A new report from Co-operatives UK is launched today. In the context of the UK Coalition Government’s policies to promote public service mutuals, “Time to get serious: international lessons for developing public service mutuals” examines the experience in Spain, Italy and Sweden. It identifies some key factors for success, learning lessons and questions that are relevant for the development of new co-operative models in the UK.

The report is written by Jonathan Bland, an international expert on co-operatives, social enterprise and social innovation. Johnathan started his career in Cardiff volunteering for the Cardiff and Vale CDA in the 80’s whilst studying at Cardiff University, and has worked in co-operative and social enterprise bodies in Valencia, London, Finland and across Europe.

Download the Report here:-  International Public Service Mutuals

Full report of our recent event is at:-
http://uk.coop/blog/gilessimon/2011-03-18/creative-energy-co-operatives-roadshow

HF holidays has purchased Dolserau Hall in the Snowdonia National Park.  The three-star hotel (Visit Wales approved) is set in five acres of grounds just outside Dolgellau, and has a reputation for high quality accommodation and good food – with three AA rosettes to its name.

HF Holidays is the UK’s leading provider of walking, outdoor and leisure activity holidays and operates as a co-operative society. 
Dolserau Hall joins HF Holidays’ existing portfolio of 16 country houses throughout Britain, all in spectacular locations designed to take full advantage of the great outdoors for walking holidays and leisure activity breaks. Continue reading →

A consultation organised by the Union of progressive Co-operators on Robin Murray’s paper was held today (Feb 21st) at the offices of Public Sector Management Wales.

Robin Murray addressed a meeting over almost 30 active co-operators, many of whom were specialists in Health and Social Care. Following a lively and interesting discussion the group have agreed to meet again shortly to take forward the issues raised. In particular issues around social care and protecting the co-operative brand.

Almost 40 people attended the Co-operative Fringe meeting at the Labour Party Wales Conference in Llandudno on February 19th.

Continue reading →

Our International Principal Six Networking meeting with co-operatives from around the world, organised in partnership with Twin Trading on September 15th 2010 in the Mulbery Centre at Abergavenny has been reported in Cafetalero, the magazine of the Peruvian coffee producers union, la Junta Nacional del Cafe. The article gives details of the co-operative movement in Wales, the UK and worldwide.

We are pleased to reproduce the article here:- Cafetalero Dec 2010

Co-ops featured in the recent drama from BBC Wales, as the story of a bakery closure unfolds.

Accompanying the series was a “making of” entitled ‘Baker Boys – how the Co-op started’ which features Robert Owen and his role in the early co-operative and trades union movements, as well as featuring some current welsh co-ops.

The programme and the “making of” are sadly no longer available on BBC iPlayer as their policy is to remove programmes 7 days after the end of the series.

Figures published in a new report from Co-operatives UK have revealed stark differences between public perceptions of PLCs and co-operative businesses. Co-operatives are four times more likely to be described as ‘fair’ and ‘honest’ compared to PLCs. Conversely, PLCs are seven times more likely to be described as ‘greedy’ by consumers.

The report, Good business? Public perceptions of co-operation, compiled on behalf of Co-operatives UK members to track public perceptions of co-operative enterprise, shows that co-operatives are viewed as local, based on sharing profits, honest, trusted and a good way to run a business, while PLCs are widely associated with being global (74%) and cut throat (56%). 

Continue reading →

Last month, the Welsh Assembly Government published a three year Action Plan for supporting the Welsh credit union sector which seeks to build upon the great strides already made in the sector’s development since the devolved administration’s creation a decade ago.

The plan, Raising the profile: meeting the challenges, is backed by £3.4 million in available funding and is based on the findings of last year’s research report by the Cardiff Institute for Co-operative Studies.  It sets out 5 core objectives:- Continue reading →

The Co-operative, Group has announced additional funding for a scheme designed to support a new co-operative business every day in 2011. The Group has an­nounced a 50% increase in its funding for The Co-op­erative Enterprise Hub, which was Iaunched in Wales at the Senedd last year – to £7.5m.

It has set a target of nur­turing more than 350 enter­prises across the UK throughout the year to create and grow thriving and sustainable com­munity-based co-operat­ives. Continue reading →

Co-operatives UK are delighted to announce that Co-operatives Fortnight 2011 will take place from 25 June to 9 July with the theme of ‘yours to share’.

The national campaign, which unites the co-operative sector, will highlight how sharing ownership and profits makes co-operative businesses more relevant than ever.

Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, says: “The success of last year’s Co-operatives Fortnight, which involved 2.3million people, came from the enthusiasm and activism of co-operatives across the country.

“This year, Co-operatives UK and the Fortnight’s sponsors want to step it up a gear. Concerns about wealth and fairness are on everyone’s lips. We have a unique opportunity to demonstrate – to customers, employees, members, business leaders and government – that co-operatives are different because they are ‘yours to share.’

“The key to this is co-operatives everywhere getting involved, using the Yours to Share branding and materials to promote how they share ownership and profits.”

Read more, watch the film and share your thoughts at www.uk.coop/yourstoshare

For events in Wales see our ‘Events’ page

What is the way forward for the co-operative sector?

Commissioned by Co-operatives UK, Robin Murray – a co-operative innovator and key thinker behind Fairtrade, Twin Trading and much more besides – has produced a radical vision of the how the co-operative sector can expand in the 21^st Century.

Co-operation in the age of Google shows that we are living at a time of profound transformation. The information and communication revolution, widespread concerns about private sector greed, public sector finances and impending climate chaos present a wide range of possibilities for co-operative expansion. Continue reading →