Co-operative Futures

11/06/2026

Team meeting time and the main topic of discussion today? Crisps! Crisp sandwiches, crisps with vinegar, ruffled crisps, crisps with cheese, crisps for dipping or squishing into a wrap, favourite flavours, on and on and on. Jo could go on Mastermind with crisps as her specialist subject! Also, coffee shops in Rome and flatbread recipes!

We did talk work too! There's plans afoot for something we can't reveal just yet, there's the Future Wolverton share offer to promote, and of course, Co-op Congress, which starts tomorrow.

Alice is on the panel for Saturday's 'Communities shaping high streets and places' session, exploring how co-operatives are helping communities take ownership of local assets, revitalise high streets and public spaces, and shape thriving places through democratic participation and community-led action.

Now, who wants to start a crisp co-op?

11/06/2026

A chance to become a member of this ambitious community benefit society in Milton Keynes and invest in the transformation of Market Hall. Find out more ➡️ https://futurewolverton.org/share-offer/

08/06/2026

After more than 50 years of award-winning global justice journalism, New Internationalist could be forced to shut down.

They need to raise £150,000 by 7 July.

Reader-owned, co-operatively run and fiercely independent – help save them from closure ⤵️

We need to raise £150,000 by 7 July to save New Internationalist from closure and continue to publish our unique global justice journalism.

04/06/2026

First June team meeting and as well as putting the world to rights (as usual) and discussing Alice's upcoming panel at Co-op Congress, we also talked Freelancer Co-ops. We'd love to know if you've had any experience with this sort of co-op - we're on the lookout for some great case studies.

Don't know what a Freelancer Co-op is?

Freelancer co-ops bring independent workers together to build something bigger. Members keep their autonomy while sharing costs, winning larger contracts or sharing opportunities, supporting one another, and having a say in how the business is run.

Why choose a Freelancer Co-op?

- Share the costs of marketing, accounting, insurance, and workspace.
- Win bigger contracts by bidding as a team.
- Build a supportive network and reduce the isolation of freelance work.
- Own and shape the business together through democratic decision-making.

So basically a freelancer co-op gives independent workers the freedom of self-employment with the strength of a team! 🔥💪

04/06/2026

Organised by CCo-operatives UK Co-op Congress 2026 starts on Friday 12 June at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.

During the main session award-winning actor and writer Julie Hesmondhalgh, renowned poet Tony Walsh and Martina Murphy (Chief Executive, Oldham Coliseum Theatre) will reflect on the campaign to save Oldham Coliseum Theatre, while Lisa Trickett will share the story behind KKings Heath Community Centre showing how local organising can build lasting co-operative solutions.

Co-op Congress takes place on 12 and 13 June in Birmingham. It is the moment the UK Movement comes together to set direction, spark ideas and turn ambition into action.

04/06/2026

𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴! 🌱

OCLT is looking for a 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 to join our small but growing team — just ~2 days per month, with fully flexible hours.

This is a hands-on role supporting our Treasurer and Finance Circle to keep our financial records accurate, well-organised, and working hard for the mission. Day-to-day, you'll be maintaining our Xero accounts, reconciling bank transactions, managing incoming invoices, producing monthly reports, and helping us build smarter, more efficient financial systems as we grow.

If you're someone who finds satisfaction in clean records, well-structured processes, and using your skills for something that genuinely matters — this could be the perfect fit.
At OCLT, we're creating permanently affordable homes for the people Oxfordshire depends on: teachers, nurses, families being priced out of the communities they serve. Behind every home we protect is an organisation that needs its finances run well.

That's where you come in.

Full details and how to 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 are 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 — link in comments below.

04/06/2026

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Trainee Project Manager Apprenticeship
People Powered Homes are recruiting a trainee project manager to work with us in Leeds.
Supporting and learning from an experienced Project Manager, across a number of different residential development projects in the community led and social housing sector in Yorkshire.
For full details on the apprenticeship and how to apply visit the website:
https://babington.co.uk/apprenticeship-vacancies/a2hVh00000012NxIAI/

03/06/2026

What could a more democratic, fair, and community-rooted care system look like?

Over the past year, Co-operative Futures has been part of the Oxfordshire Care Co-operative Pilot, exploring whether co-operative models could help address some of the challenges facing adult social care while creating greater ownership, fairness, and voice for care workers and people who draw on care.

Through research, workshops, and conversations with care workers, care users, community organisations, and sector partners, the project highlighted both the potential of co-operative care and the significant barriers that currently stand in the way.

We heard about the realities of low pay, workforce shortages, migrant worker exploitation, and the challenges many people face in accessing care that truly meets their needs. We also learned from inspiring examples including North West Care Co-operatives, Equal Care Co-op, The Great Care Co-op, and Co-operative Care Colne Valley, demonstrating how co-operative approaches can deliver quality care, stronger relationships, and greater worker voice.

While the pilot concluded that significant changes are needed to create the conditions for care co-operatives to thrive, it also found a strong ethical case and appetite for more democratic alternatives in care.

Take a look through our visual summary to learn more about the findings, recommendations, and next steps.

If you are interested in reading the full report, please get in touch for a copy.

03/06/2026

The co-operative model has never been more relevant. The challenge isn't what co-ops do, it's making sure more people know about it.

‘We’re in a time of poly crisis … so it feels like a really important time for us to be highlighting these kinds of models’

We speak to Erin Hancock, programme manager of the recent international symposium on Co‑op Identity and Energising the Co‑op Brand, which looked at ways to spread the co-op secret

https://www.thenews.coop/symposium-looks-for-ways-to-energise-the-co-op-brand/