Wales Co-operative Centre
Encyclopedia
Wales Co-operative Centre is a not-for-profit co-operative development agency in Wales. It is the largest co-operative development body in the UK . Since inception it has helped over 1000 businesses across Wales.
Key characteristics:
The Centre manages several major initiatives in Wales http://www.walescooperative.org.
It delivers a range of projects to promote social, financial inclusion
and digital inclusion. Its team of advisors work right across Wales, helping co-operatives, social enterprises, community groups and voluntary organisations.
to provide business support to co-operatives in Wales. In 1984, the Centre published the first list of co-operatives in Wales and launched its first programme of training courses.
In 1988, The Wales Co-operative Centre helped establish the first credit union
in Wales in Rhydfelin (now called Dragon Savers http://www.dragonsavers.org/index.php). It also started providing advice to trade unions and their members about employee ownership.
In 1992 the Wales Co-operative Centre was the largest co-operative development agency in England and Wales. Today (2010) the UK's largest Co-operatives include John Lewis Partnership and the Co-operative Group.
In 1995, Tower Colliery became the largest employee-owned company in Wales with support from the Wales Co-operative Centre. The Centre also helped to set up the UK's first credit union based on an NHS Trust, in Bridgend.
In 1998 the Centre merged with Cardiff and Vale Co-operative Development Agency and took over the Enterprise Rehearsal Project which helped benefit claimants into self employment (examples http://www.chwaraeteg.com/downloads/Potentia%20case%20studies.pdfhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4276228.stm).
In 1999, The Centre began working with social enterprises in Wales and became the first Chair of the All Wales Social Enterprise Network.
The Wales Co-operative Centre gained support from the Welsh Assembly Government
in 2000 for a significant credit union development and grant fund initiative, which then became a flagship project under the new European structural funds programme.
In 2001, the Wales Co-operative Centre brings together the Communities First Support Network to support the work of the Communities First Programme http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/regeneration/communitiesfirst/?lang=en.
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust
provided further funding in 2002 for the Centre to administer the Debt Redemption and Money Advice Scheme to protect those most at risk from doorsetep lenders.
The Centre secures European Objective One http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/objective1/index_en.htm funding in 2004 to continue work in developing co-operatives and leads to a major expansion of the Centre.
In 2005, the Welsh Assembly Government's 'Social Enterprise Strategy for Wales'http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/regeneration/publications/socialenterprisestrategy?lang=en formally recognises the role which social enterprises and co-operatives play in economic development.
Communities@One http://www.communitiesatone.org/ is launched by the Communities Directorate of the Welsh Assembly Government in 2006. The Wales Co-operative Centre wins the contract to deliver this digital inclusion initiative.
2007 sees the Centre launch a Fair Trade
project working with businesses across Wales to show them the benefits of adopting a Fair Trade policy, following funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
In 2009, the Centre wins contracts to deliver the Social Enterprise Support Project and the Welsh Assembly Government's digital inclusion project, Communities 2.0.
2010 saw a change of Chief Executive. After a total of 18 years with the Centre, Simon Harris left to become Director of Wales at Business in the Community. He is replaced by Derek Walker, coming from Director of External Affairs at the Big Lottery Fund .
Key characteristics:
- Established in 1982 by the Wales TUC
- Legal structure - an Industrial and Provident Society, non-profit making organisation with open membership
- Funded through the Welsh Assembly GovernmentWelsh Assembly GovernmentThe Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
, Europe, some local authorities and some earned income - 54 staff working across Wales at offices in Cardiff, Abercynon, Bangor, Carmarthen and Swansea.
- Membership elect Management Board, who appoint the Executive Committee
The Centre manages several major initiatives in Wales http://www.walescooperative.org.
It delivers a range of projects to promote social, financial inclusion
Financial inclusion
Financial inclusion or inclusive financing is the delivery of financial services at affordable costs to sections of disadvantaged and low income segments of society. Unrestrained access to public goods and services is the sine qua non of an open and efficient society...
and digital inclusion. Its team of advisors work right across Wales, helping co-operatives, social enterprises, community groups and voluntary organisations.
History
The Centre was established in 1982 by the Wales TUCWales TUC
The Wales TUC is the co-ordinating body of trade unions in Wales. With over 50 affiliated unions as of 2006, the Wales TUC represents nearly half a million workers trade unionists....
to provide business support to co-operatives in Wales. In 1984, the Centre published the first list of co-operatives in Wales and launched its first programme of training courses.
In 1988, The Wales Co-operative Centre helped establish the first credit union
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
in Wales in Rhydfelin (now called Dragon Savers http://www.dragonsavers.org/index.php). It also started providing advice to trade unions and their members about employee ownership.
In 1992 the Wales Co-operative Centre was the largest co-operative development agency in England and Wales. Today (2010) the UK's largest Co-operatives include John Lewis Partnership and the Co-operative Group.
In 1995, Tower Colliery became the largest employee-owned company in Wales with support from the Wales Co-operative Centre. The Centre also helped to set up the UK's first credit union based on an NHS Trust, in Bridgend.
In 1998 the Centre merged with Cardiff and Vale Co-operative Development Agency and took over the Enterprise Rehearsal Project which helped benefit claimants into self employment (examples http://www.chwaraeteg.com/downloads/Potentia%20case%20studies.pdfhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4276228.stm).
In 1999, The Centre began working with social enterprises in Wales and became the first Chair of the All Wales Social Enterprise Network.
The Wales Co-operative Centre gained support from the Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
in 2000 for a significant credit union development and grant fund initiative, which then became a flagship project under the new European structural funds programme.
In 2001, the Wales Co-operative Centre brings together the Communities First Support Network to support the work of the Communities First Programme http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/regeneration/communitiesfirst/?lang=en.
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust
Coalfields Regeneration Trust
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is an independent grant-making organisation that was established in 1999 to improve the quality of life in Britain’s coalfield communities...
provided further funding in 2002 for the Centre to administer the Debt Redemption and Money Advice Scheme to protect those most at risk from doorsetep lenders.
The Centre secures European Objective One http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/objective1/index_en.htm funding in 2004 to continue work in developing co-operatives and leads to a major expansion of the Centre.
In 2005, the Welsh Assembly Government's 'Social Enterprise Strategy for Wales'http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/regeneration/publications/socialenterprisestrategy?lang=en formally recognises the role which social enterprises and co-operatives play in economic development.
Communities@One http://www.communitiesatone.org/ is launched by the Communities Directorate of the Welsh Assembly Government in 2006. The Wales Co-operative Centre wins the contract to deliver this digital inclusion initiative.
2007 sees the Centre launch a Fair Trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
project working with businesses across Wales to show them the benefits of adopting a Fair Trade policy, following funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
In 2009, the Centre wins contracts to deliver the Social Enterprise Support Project and the Welsh Assembly Government's digital inclusion project, Communities 2.0.
2010 saw a change of Chief Executive. After a total of 18 years with the Centre, Simon Harris left to become Director of Wales at Business in the Community. He is replaced by Derek Walker, coming from Director of External Affairs at the Big Lottery Fund .