Support available from the Plunkett Foundation

Posted: 9th September 2015

plunkettDid you know that there are currently over 400 community co-operatives open and trading across the UK?

The Plunkett Foundation supports communities, predominantly in rural areas, to set-up and run life-changing community co-operatives; enterprises that are owned and run democratically by large numbers of people in their community. They help people to tackle a range of issues, from isolation and loneliness to poverty, and come in many forms including shops, cafes, pubs and land-based initiatives, and everything in between. Although there are over 400 community co-operatives up and running, we want to help many more rural communities find a co-operative solution to rural social isolation and rural service deprivation.

If you have an idea for a community co-operative, or if your community is worried about losing a valuable service, why not contact the team at Plunkett to find out more about their help and support? Plunkett can provide advice on the next steps for your project idea from how to engage with your community to setting up a legal structure and raising the funds. As well as a range of online resources, adviser support, an email and telephone service, Plunkett also delivers a range of programmes to ensure communities receive the best help and support when they need it, including:

  • The Esmee Fairbairn Frontline programme which offers support and a feasibility grant to communities setting up or diversifying community-owned services in rural areas, from the initial idea through to investment readiness.
  •  Enterprising Rural Communities, funded by the Princes Countryside Fund, provides specialist adviser support or a study visit to community groups exploring the initial steps required to set up a community co-operative.

For more information on how Plunkett can help your community co-operative project idea flourish, contact Aimee on aimee.evans@plunkett.co.uk or 01993 810730 . You can find out more about the Plunkett Foundation at www.plunkett.co.uk