Help Co-operatives UK make the case for co-operative growth

We've offered to work with government to deliver good growth through co-operation. Now we need MPs across the UK to help unlock the policies that will enable co-operatives to thrive.

Help make the case to Parliament

Co-operatives UK and leaders from across the movement have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham to set out how co-operatives can help deliver the government's programme for good growth, secure the essentials, empower communities and support reindustrialisation.

Now we're asking our members – and the wider co-operative economy - to help build support in Parliament.

A personal letter from a local co-operative is one of the most effective ways to show MPs the difference co-operatives make in their constituencies – and why government should continue to back the growth of the co-operative economy.

Why this matters

Government has already laid important foundations through initiatives including the Local Power Plan, the Pride in Place Strategy, and investment and reform for credit unions.

Now there is an opportunity to go further by ensuring co-operatives can:

• Access the specialist business support they need
• Raise the capital required to grow
• Benefit from modern co-operative legislation
• Play a greater role in housing, food, care, energy, manufacturing, digital industries and other foundational sectors

Co-operatives are already helping to deliver good growth across the UK. With the right policy framework, they can do even more.

What we're asking government to do

We want government to build on the progress already made and:

• Improve access to specialist co-operative business support
• Unlock more finance for co-operative businesses
• Modernise co-operative legislation
• Support worker ownership and mutualisation
• Create the conditions for co-operatives to thrive in housing, food, care, energy, manufacturing and digital industries

Download our template letter and find your MP

We've produced a template letter, but your own experience will make the strongest case. So we encourage you to personalise the letter with details about your own co-operative and its local impact. You can find your MP here >>