Model governing documents for co-operatives
Resource
Starting or registering a co-operative? You’ll need a governing document, sometimes called rules, a constitution or articles. This sets out how your co-operative is owned, controlled and run.
Co-operatives UK provides free model governing document templates for different types of co-operative, community benefit society, housing co-op, worker co-op and co-operative company. If you register with the FCA using our model rules, you’ll need to use our registration tool so we can check the right model is being used and provide consent.
If the type of co-operative or legal form you are hoping to register is not listed, please contact our advice team.
Before using our model governing documents
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will only process registrations using Co-operatives UK model governing documents if our consent is provided.
We can only provide consent if you use our registration tool (step 6.1). You can read more about governing documents via our step by step tool. If you have questions relating to the governing document in advance of registering your co-op, contact our advice team. By using our registration tool and service:
- We can ensure that the correct model rules are being used.
- Any changes made to model rules are in line with the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014
- That the society's application meets the conditions for registration.
Governance support for co-operatives
