Case studies
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Rice up: Co-operation that creates quality customer service
Content by Business support for co-ops
Formed out of a desire to supply affordable, ethically sourced food, Rice Up Wholefoods is a grocery shop co-op in the heart of Southampton’s city centre.
2 years 6 months
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Co-op News: connecting co-operators worldwide
First published in Manchester in 1871, Co-op News is a news service reporting on the activity of co-operatives throughout the world.
2 years 9 months
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“I feel valued and listened to.” – Signalise co-op
Content by Co-op Fortnight
Signalise is a sign language interpretating service that aims to revolutionise the way healthcare providers request, contract and deliver interpreting services for deaf people.
2 years 10 months
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A pedal powered local community champion – Chorlton Bike Deliveries
Content by Business support for co-ops
Chorlton Bike Deliveries Co-op has achieved a great deal in a short space of time. When the Covid-19 pandemic forced the UK’s first lockdown, the inhabitants of Chorlton in south Manchester took to…
3 years 3 months
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Bringing a Victorian ballroom back to life: Stretford Public Hall
Content by Booster Fund
Booster funding matched the investment provided by over 800 local residents to fund the restoration of Stretford Public Hall’s Victorian grade II listed ballroom, for community use.
3 years 5 months
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Coming together to build a local hub: Smarden Community Store
Content by Booster Fund
Smarden is a village close to Ashford in Kent. In 2019, its post office and shop closed, so local residents decided to raise funds to build a new store with post office and café services.
3 years 5 months
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From car park to paradise: Hulme Community Garden Centre
Content by Booster Fund
Hulme Community Garden Centre is a charity owned by its community, employing nine local people and with a turnover of £300k per annum. When it wanted to grow its indoor space and social impact, the…
3 years 5 months
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Supporting the local community: Projekts MCR
Content by Booster Fund
Following a successful crowd funding campaign, Projekts MCR secured £134,338 with 70 investors in 64 days to expand their skate park, add energy-saving LED floodlights and be better able to support…
3 years 5 months
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Case study: Carbon Co‑op’s online AGM
Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, many co-ops have had to adapt so much of their member engagement, including moving AGMs online.
3 years 6 months
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On the front foot through challenging times: October Books
Content by Business support for co-ops
In January 2020, October Books, a worker-owned and run community bookshop in Southampton, was on the verge of taking great new strides.
3 years 9 months
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Making Manchester’s The Meteor “bigger, better and more influential”
Content by Business support for co-ops
The Meteor is an independent, community‑based media outlet that’s been providing news, features and commentary to the people of Manchester since 2016. In July 2019, it became a co‑op.
4 years 2 months
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Local wealth is made in Wigan
Content by Empowering Places
Some 15,000 people live in Wigan’s Abram Ward. “It used to be called ‘Giro City’,” says David Baxter, Principal Officer of Made in Wigan – which is tackling social inequality in the area.
4 years 3 months
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Signalise Co-op: “We bring deaf people and interpreters together”
Content by Business support for co-ops
"We know of a deaf man who was in hospital for 21 days without any interpreting support. Global agencies often provide poor sign language services in favour of profit," explains Jen Smith on why…
4 years 5 months
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Farmers stand united through co‑operation: Aspatria Farmers
The UK’s farmers must stand united to combat the threat of multi-national corporations in the food supply chain, says Tim Wilson, CEO of Aspatria Farmers.
4 years 7 months
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Projekts MCR – a skatepark changing lives in Manchester
Content by Business support for co-ops
Projekts MCR is a skatepark based in Manchester city centre. It recently received support from The Hive – the support programme for co-ops delivered by Co‑operatives UK in partnership with The…
5 years 4 months
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“A great sense of community” – October Books
Content by Business support for co-ops
From constrained to creative. From frustrated to fulfilled. From boredom to belonging. That’s the difference being part of the October Books co-op has made to Jessica Haynes.
5 years 8 months