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As the debate around football club ownership intensifies, new research conducted by Co-operatives UK has today revealed that fans want to take control at both Manchester United and Liverpool – and could afford to do so.

83 per cent of Manchester United fans and 72 per cent of Liverpool fans who expressed an opinion felt their club would be in better hands if it was owned co-operatively. Across the country 56% of fans, who gave an opinion, feel the same way according to the survey* conducted by YouGov on behalf of Co-operatives UK.

The survey confirms for the first time that they would be willing to put their money where their mouth is and invest in the club to take it into co-operative ownership.

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Co-operatives^UK has launched a ‘co-operative call to action’ for the forthcoming General Election asking all political parties to focus on co operation as a major force in addressing issues ranging from economic renewal to fairness in society.

Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives^UK, said: “Unprecedented events such as the financial crisis and the climate threat show the importance of co-operation.

“There is increasing evidence that people are co-operative as much as they are also competitive and we wish to see the next government make a commitment to encourage a diverse economy where the co-operative business model features strongly.”

The call to action addresses five key areas including: economic renewal; social innovation; a fairer society; climate change and digital futures. Continue reading →

United Nations Declares 2012 International Year of Cooperatives

NEW YORK, 21 December (Department of Economic and Social Affairs) — The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives, highlighting the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development.  In adopting resolution 64/136 on 18 December, the Assembly noted that cooperatives impact poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration.

A cooperative is an autonomous voluntary association of people who unite to meet common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations, through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.  In general, they contribute to socio-economic development.

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Important recognition of cooperatives at the world level:
The United Nations proclaim 2012 as the International year of Cooperatives

The resolution that the United Nations have just adopted is a real plea for cooperatives. This new resolution on the role of cooperatives in social development proclaims 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives. UN Member States approved the resolution (A/RES/64/136) on 18 December at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

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The Phone Co‑op and the Co‑operative Press were recognised as outstanding co‑operatives at the dotCoop Awards held during the International Co‑operative Alliance General Assembly in Geneva, last month.

Accepting the award on behalf of The Phone Co‑op, chief executive Vivian Woodell said: “It is a great honour for The Phone Co‑op to be recognised at a global level, especially as the key criteria used by the judges were all about how well each organisation put into practice a distinctively co‑operative business approach, which is what we aim to do. I should like to pay tribute to our board, and to my colleagues, as well as to our customers and members for having made this achievement possible.”

The dotCoop Global Awards are given to those co‑operatives who demonstrate a strong commitment to the co‑operative business model. DotCoop also looked for co‑ops whose missions and practices clearly demonstrate co‑operative values, especially in their websites. Continue reading →

This year, the board of Co‑operatives^UK asked the Centre for Brand Analysis to carry out an extensive investigation of what Co‑operatives^UK means to our members.

Perhaps you were one of the 160 people that were asked to complete an online survey or take part in a half-hour in depth interview.

Now, Stephen Cheliotis of the Centre for Brand Analysis has produced the final results of the investigation as a report. Continue reading →

Pack-IT packs up the 2009 UK Social Enterprise Award

Pack-IT Promotions of Cardiff was named as the winner of the under £1 million category at the UK finals of the inaugural Social Enterprise Awards.

The packaging and distribution firm, which provides training opportunities and employment for people with learning disabilities, won the award for best UK social enterprise with a turnover under £1m at a ceremony in London. It follows the organisation’s recent win in the same category at the Social Enterprise Awards Wales.

Wales was also represented at the UK finals by the Machynlleth Centre for Alternative Technology, which was a finalist in the category for best social enterprise with a turnover in excess of £1m, and Cardiff-based Cycle Training Wales, which made it to the finals in the Best New Social Enterprise category. Continue reading →

Assembly group forms to find co-operative solutions for Wales

Welsh Assembly Members of all parties have come together to find co-operative solutions to Wales’ economic challenges.

The Assembly Cross-party Group on Co-operatives and Mutuals was formed on Wednesday 25 November 2009.  Assembly Members who have committed to join the group include Lorraine Barrett AM, Chris Franks AM,  Mike German AM, John Griffiths AM, Mark Isherwood AM, Gareth Jones AM, Huw Lewis AM and David Melding AM. Continue reading →

Social Enterprise Awards

On Thursday, Social Enterprise Day at the inaugural Social Enterprise Awards Wales.  The awards were presented by Leighton Andrews, Deputy Minister for Regeneration from the Welsh Assembly Government at an event held at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay.

Two of the finalists are co-operatives. Pack-IT Cardiff is a Co-operative Social Firm that has applied business principles addressing head on and providing a solution for some of today’s high profile social issues. The company has created jobs for people who have experienced difficulties in finding paid employment, at the same time operating a commercially sound business. As John Bennett say “Pack-IT does what is says on the tin. It puts things in envelopes and boxes and sends then to destinations across the Globe”. www.pack-it.com Continue reading →

Co‑operatives & Mutuals Wales is the Regional Co‑operative Council for Wales.
The Council has representatives from across the co‑operative movement, including Wales Co‑op Centre, Co‑operative Group, Co‑operative Bank, Wales Institute for Research into Co‑operatives, Credit Unions, Worker Co‑ops, Community Co‑operatives and other co‑operative bodies and supporters.
Formed at an inaugral meeting on March 16th 2000, the Council is led by an Executive Board which meets every 2 months.

If you would like to become a member or join our mailing list, please contact the Chair:-
Alex Bird
Tel: 07914 762 546
e-mail: alex@cooperatives-wales.coop