coop:co-operatives

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coop:co-operatives [2025/12/05 18:25] – Simon Grantcoop:co-operatives [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Co-operatives+This topic is part of [[gt:economy|Economy & finance]]. 
 +====== Co-operatives ======
  
  
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-## What are co-operatives?+===== What are co-operatives? =====
  
 A co-operative (often shortened to co-op or coop) is a business owned and run by and for its members. The definition, principles and values of co-operatives are laid out by the [International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)](http://ica.coop/). A co-operative (often shortened to co-op or coop) is a business owned and run by and for its members. The definition, principles and values of co-operatives are laid out by the [International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)](http://ica.coop/).
  
-### Definition+==== Definition ====
  
 A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
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 <caption> <caption>
- +_The [Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Society_of_Equitable_Pioneers), aka the Rochdale Pioneers, who wrote down the co-operative principles in 1844; they were [updated](http://ica.coop/en/whats-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles) by the International Co-operative Alliance in 1966._
-The [Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Society_of_Equitable_Pioneers), aka the Rochdale Pioneers, who wrote down the co-operative principles in 1844; they were [updated](http://ica.coop/en/whats-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles) by the International Co-operative Alliance in 1966. +
 </caption> </caption>
  
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Values+==== Values ====
  
 Self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. Self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.
  
-### Principles+==== Principles ====
  
 In 1844 in England, the [Rochdale Pioneers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Society_of_Equitable_Pioneers) founded a consumer co-op that started the modern co-operative movement. They produced a set of [co-operative principles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Principles) that have been amended over time, and now form the basis of the ICA’s ‘[Statement of Co-operative Identity](http://ica.coop/en/whats-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles)’. The seven principles are: In 1844 in England, the [Rochdale Pioneers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Society_of_Equitable_Pioneers) founded a consumer co-op that started the modern co-operative movement. They produced a set of [co-operative principles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Principles) that have been amended over time, and now form the basis of the ICA’s ‘[Statement of Co-operative Identity](http://ica.coop/en/whats-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles)’. The seven principles are:
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 <caption> <caption>
- +_[Suma Wholefoods Co-op](http://www.suma.coop) - the UK’s largest independent wholefood wholesaler/distributor._
-[Suma Wholefoods Co-op](http://www.suma.coop) - the UK’s largest independent wholefood wholesaler/distributor. +
 </caption> </caption>
  
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-## What are the benefits of co-operatives?+===== What are the benefits of co-operatives? =====
  
 Democracy for workers and consumers: members can influence the affairs of the co-op, and the decisions that are made. The smaller the co-op, the more influence an individual member has. Democracy for workers and consumers: members can influence the affairs of the co-op, and the decisions that are made. The smaller the co-op, the more influence an individual member has.
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-### Potential downsides+==== Potential downsides ====
  
 Compared to the [commons](/coec/commons_economy), co-ops may be less able to challenge the status quo, for the following reasons: Compared to the [commons](/coec/commons_economy), co-ops may be less able to challenge the status quo, for the following reasons:
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Support co-ops+==== Support co-ops ====
  
 Use your local co-ops. See [here](https://www.uk.coop/directory). There are different consumer societies, of which the [Co-op Group](https://www.co-operative.coop/) is the largest. With the Co-op Group and a lot of the larger co-ops, dividends paid to members are in direct proportion to the amount of money spent. This tends to benefit those with the most money, and is therefore not ideal. Also, co-operative principles are often forgotten in large co-ops. A good guide is to ask the staff. Are they members? Do they know much about the co-op, or about co-operative principles and values? Use your local co-ops. See [here](https://www.uk.coop/directory). There are different consumer societies, of which the [Co-op Group](https://www.co-operative.coop/) is the largest. With the Co-op Group and a lot of the larger co-ops, dividends paid to members are in direct proportion to the amount of money spent. This tends to benefit those with the most money, and is therefore not ideal. Also, co-operative principles are often forgotten in large co-ops. A good guide is to ask the staff. Are they members? Do they know much about the co-op, or about co-operative principles and values?
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-### Set up a co-op+==== Set up a co-op ====
  
 If you’d like to set up a co-op, there are various places you can go for help. [Co-operatives UK](https://www.uk.coop/) have lots of resources, including their business support service, [the Hive](https://www.uk.coop/the-hive/). If you’d like to set up a co-op, there are various places you can go for help. [Co-operatives UK](https://www.uk.coop/) have lots of resources, including their business support service, [the Hive](https://www.uk.coop/the-hive/).
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Convert to to a co-op+==== Convert to to a co-op ====
  
 Existing businesses can become co-ops. The organisations mentioned above can help you with this too. The process has to be open and voluntary – i.e. no-one should suddenly find themselves part of a co-op that they weren’t consulted about forming. Existing businesses can become co-ops. The organisations mentioned above can help you with this too. The process has to be open and voluntary – i.e. no-one should suddenly find themselves part of a co-op that they weren’t consulted about forming.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum =====
  
-- [UK Co-operative Directory](https://www.uk.coop/directory)+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:economy|Economy & finance]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/economy).
  
-- [Co-operative World Map](https://worldmap.coop/)+===== Further resources =====
  
 +- [International Co-operative Alliance](https://ica.coop/)
 +- [UK Co-operative Directory](https://www.uk.coop/directory)
 +- [Co-operative World Map](https://worldmap.coop/)
 - [Step-by-step guide to starting a co-op](https://www.uk.coop/start-new-co-op/start) - [Step-by-step guide to starting a co-op](https://www.uk.coop/start-new-co-op/start)
 +- [Co-op Culture](https://www.culture.coop/) - supporting co-ops
 +- [Catalyst Collective](https://www.catalystcollective.org/) - supporting the development of co-ops
 +- [Co-operative & Community Finance](https://coopfinance.coop/)
 +- [Co-operative College](https://www.co-op.ac.uk/)
 +- [Co-op News](https://www.thenews.coop/)
 +- [Radical Routes](https://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/) - advice, loans
 +- [South-west Co-op Development](https://www.southwest.coop/) - helping start co-ops
 +- [United Diversity](https://library.uniteddiversity.coop/Cooperatives/) - huge co-op library
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +===== Related topics =====
  
 +- [Community energy](coen:community_energy)
 +- [ROSCAs - rotating savings & credit associations](rosc:roscas)
 +- [Housing co-ops](hcoo:housing_co-operatives)
 +- [Self-employment](self:self-employment)
 +- [Platform co-ops](pltc:platform_co-ops)
 +- [Sociocracy](soci:sociocracy)
 +- [Mutual credit](mucr:mutual_credit)
 +- [Commons economy](coec:commons_economy)
 +- [Building societies](bsoc:building_societies)
 +- [Intentional communities](intc:intentional_communities)
 +- [Community](comy:community)
 +- [Fairtrade](fair:fairtrade)
 +- [Community land trusts](clts:community_land_trusts)
 +- [Credit unions](crun:credit_unions)
 +- [Independent media](indy:independent_media)
 +- [Commoning](comg:commoning)
  
  
-## Specialist(s)+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • coop/co-operatives.1764959128.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/05 18:25
  • by Simon Grant