Cooperate Islington offers grants for new-start businesses

Applications for grants of up to £20,000 are available for new or early-stage co-ops who want to operate in Islington, and established co-ops who want to expand into the borough. Cooperative Islington is also keen to work with established businesses and institutions who are interested in making their supply chains more ethical and more cooperative. 

Cooperate Islington will focus on developing co-operatives in the Foundational Economy – goods and services that people need to access regardless of their income and social status. It will work particularly with the care sector (childcare and adult social care), education, housing, utilities, food supply, green initiatives and tradespeople.

The partnership is an unique collaboration between a number of local and national co-operative and community development organisations, including Hackney Cooperative Developments, Principle Six, Stir to Action, Cooperation Town and Co-operatives UK. The programme is being funded by and delivered in partnership with Islington Council. 

James Wright, Policy Officer at Co-operatives UK, said: “We’re really excited to see Islington Council put this level of funding into co-operative development, which we believe dwarfs anything else happening in the UK, per head of population. The programme aims to reduce inequalities and promote economic justice in Islington through co-operatives.

“Co-operatives UK will be producing a report for policymakers on the impact of Cooperate Islington later this year, which we hope will encourage other local authorities to fund co-op development in their areas.”

What support is on offer?

In addition to offering business support, Cooperate Islington’s activities will include:

• Setting up a brand new Co-operative Development Agency, with its own governing body and membership, and a mix of funding and commercial revenue 
• Giving out £75,000 in grants to new or early-stage co-ops who want to operate in Islington, or established co-ops who want to expand into the borough. These groups will also be given up to 7 days of bespoke mentoring and training, as well as free membership to SPACE4
• Running a series of public events and training to raise awareness of co-ops and boost skills needed to run a successful co-operative business
• Hosting sector-by-sector round tables, and building relationships with ‘anchor institutions’ and other big buyers in the borough to help them make their supply chains more local and more cooperative. 

Find out more

If you’re based in Islington, find out about the support on offer: cooperateislington.com