Co-operatives and social enterprises

Co-operatives are democratically run and jointly owned businesses that meet the needs of their members, who may be the users of services, employees, and/or supporters. They are based on the 'co-operative values' of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity, and the 'ethical values' of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.  Co-operatives put their values into effect by a set of principles:

·        membership is open to anyone who qualifies

·        members have a say in running their business

·        surpluses are used to reinvest in the business, benefit members for using their co-operative, and/or support
          social and community activities

·        independent organisations

·        provide education and training for their members and employees, and information about the benefits of
          co-operation

·        collaborate with other co-operatives
·        commitment to improve the communities they serve.

Our definition of social enterprise embraces co-operatives and mutuals, as well as other types, such as community businesses and social firms. Our view is that social enterprises are businesses:

·        having a social purpose

·        engaging in trade, at least in part

·        being not for (private) profit, reinvesting surpluses in the business or in the community, rather than  
          maximising profit for share holders and owners

·        holding assets and wealth in common ownership for community benefit

·        involving members democratically in governance

·        being independent, accountable to members and the wider community.

For more information about co-operatives and social enterprises, go to http://www.uk.coop/ and http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/.