coop:co-operatives

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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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-### 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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 _Fire the boss._ _Fire the boss._
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 _What is a co-operative?_ _What is a co-operative?_
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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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 _Unicorn Grocery in Manchester. Worker co-op; everyone gets paid the same; they own 21 acres of land just outside Manchester on which they grow a lot of the food they sell; fantastic produce and information boards; creche; they have no intention of having more than one shop, but they provide a ‘[Grow a Grocery](http://unicorn-grocery.coop/grow-a-grocery.php)’ guide to help others set up a similar co-op grocery in their own town._ _Unicorn Grocery in Manchester. Worker co-op; everyone gets paid the same; they own 21 acres of land just outside Manchester on which they grow a lot of the food they sell; fantastic produce and information boards; creche; they have no intention of having more than one shop, but they provide a ‘[Grow a Grocery](http://unicorn-grocery.coop/grow-a-grocery.php)’ guide to help others set up a similar co-op grocery in their own town._
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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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 _[Loomio](https://www.loomio.org/) is a tool developed by the Enspiral co-operative, that helps groups make decisions collectively._ _[Loomio](https://www.loomio.org/) is a tool developed by the Enspiral co-operative, that helps groups make decisions collectively._
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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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-### 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 ===== 
 + 
 +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). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [International Co-operative Alliance](https://ica.coop/) - [International Co-operative Alliance](https://ica.coop/)
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-## Related topics+===== 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 curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
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