News

New co-operatives registered recently:

TLC Co-operative.

The Armada Co-operative.

Chelvey Designer Makers (June 2009).

South West Co-operative Support (March 2009). A consortium of co-operative development bodies in the SW region.

Green Arts Network. A marketing co-operative – supports the work of creative practitioners, working to build sustainable communities. Bringing participatory events to people and public spaces.

Kebele Community Co-op (May 2008). Kebele Community Co-op – a community co-operative – provides a welcoming space within the local community that encourages mutual aid, empowerment, self-organisation, sustainability and resistance to oppression. Also provides affordable self managed housing for its members. Visit www.kebelecoop.org for more details.

Steal From Work. A workers co-operative – an artist run co-operative that both curates and produces contemporary art shows and produces its own artwork. Visit www.stealfromwork.org for more details.

Suits U Circus (April 2008).

Buddies & Co. A workers co-operative – Provides quality childcare to children from 4 to 11 years. The service includes breakfast, holiday and after-school clubs.

Stokes Croft Studios (February 2008). A marketing co-operative – an artists’ co-operative, which has been in its current premises for over 20 years. Providing light, spacious and affordable working space for 16 artists.

DK Co-operative (January 2008). A workers co-operative – making high art prints on paper and canvas. Using cutting edge technology we photograph original art work and create beautiful prints to specification. Can also print directly from supplied image file. Other services include photographic documentation of museum collections and graphic design for a range of clients. Visit www.fapc.co.uk for more details.

SNAP. A marketing co-operative – SNAP studios is an exciting new venture set up by eight Bristol based artists and designers. SNAP offers unique facilities and space, in the company of practising artists, right in the centre of Bristol. Visit www.snapstudio.org.uk for more details.

Little Rainbows Pre-school. A workers Co-operative – Provides quality pre-school education to local children aged between 2 and 5 years, with a strong emphasis on learning through play. Visit www.littlerainbows.ik.org for more details.

Eastside Roots. A workers co-operative – Eastside Roots developed out of a Bristol Permaculture Group idea to provide a ‘gardening hub’ for the local community whilst at the same time rejuvenating a piece of derelict land in Easton. They also run a series of workshops (bench making, polytunnel construction, fruit tree pruning, etc). There is plenty of opportunity to help out and to gain skills at the volunteer days. Visit www.eastsideroots.org.uk for more details.

Artspacelifespace (June 2007). A workers co-operative – seeks to provide workshop and rehearsal space for artists and performers, access to recycled materials and equipment, protection to vulnerable and problem properties and support to community and charity organisations. It is their policy and commitment to maintain and leave a property in better condition than it was found, leave on time and in accordance with the wishes of the owner, and improve the image of the property within the local community. Visit www.artspacelifespace.com for more details.

Fourth Wall Creations (December 2006).

An Turus (Sept 2006). A workers co-operative – offering unique transformational opportunities for adults, young people, teams and organisations buy providing powerful therapeutic wilderness and adventure experiences. They have established themselves as a leading organisation in Britain for providing a range of accredited continuing professional development workshops for those interested in the concepts of wilderness therapy and adventure therapy. Visit www.an-turus.co.uk for more details.

Once (June 2006). A workers co-operative – exploring and making the day to day and extraordinary of our lives, using varied art forms to create bespoke projects, interventions, performances, secular ceremonies and events. From youth art in the park to the naming of a child, Once responds to commissions and develop their own programme. Visit www.once.uk.com for more details.

Here Shop. A workers co-operative – anyone can get involved with the here shop and gallery. Here formed during Ladyfest 2003 by local artists who wanted to do more with one of Stokes Croft’s empty shopfronts. The Gallery curates groundbreaking exhibitons, whilst the shop sells art, music, comics, zines, toys and more. Volunteers are always welcomed. Visit www.thingsfromhere.co.uk for more details.

Green Bristol (April 2006). A workers co-operative - raising awareness of both environmental and community sustainability. Produces online and printed green maps at various scales and organises pubic events in the theme of environment. Visit www.greenbristol.blogspot.com for more details.

DAM Entertainments (March 2006).

NISA.

Community Value Mapping (January 2006).

The Sustainable Initiative for Barrow Ltd (December 2005). Avon CDA are delighted to have registered The Sustainable Initiative for Barrow (SIB) as a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Worker Co-operative. SIB is a Trust set-up to purchase and preserve the buildings and grounds of Barrow Hospital for the community, to provide a showcase for a low-carbon lifestyle and become a flagship development for the South West as a forward thinking region. Company Secretary Alex Phillips said “We aim to become a focus for environmental and renewable research and an education and demonstration centre for urban and rural communities.” Visit www.sib.org.uk for more details.

Bathford Enterprise For All. Local residents have set up Bathford Enterprise For All (BEFA) as an Industrial & Provident Society and a Community Co-operative, with the aim of saving their local village store in Bathford, North East Somerset.

Somali Voice (August 2005). Avon CDA is proud to announce the registration of Bristol’s second BME led co-operative and the only Somali Newspaper in the UK. Somali Voice is a community co-operative producing a bi-lingual free independent monthly paper, servicing the 14,000 Somalians living in Bristol. In addition to receiving support from Avon CDA, Somali Voice has also been supported by BRAVE and has ongoing production support from the Evening Post.

Open Door Foundation (May 2005). The Foundation is a not-for-profit workers co-operative involved in health, education and evidence based research around the belief that health, nature and society are interconnected. They offer Personal Development training and counselling support for disadvantaged groups to promote good mental health and well-being, to enhance quality of life and help people achieve their full potential. The Open Door Foundation works to re-empower people and support them to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Contact: Jill Foster. The Coach House, 2 Upper York Street. Bristol BS2 8QN. Tel: 07900 138444. e-mail jillfoster@onetel.com

SPARKS Inc Childcare Co-operative (November 2004), formerly Sefton Park After Schools Club had been providing childcare services for 20 years when they decided to change the structure. A full consultation process was carried out with parents, who had previously managed the organisation as volunteers. Transition to management by a worker’s co-operative was assisted by the CDA and was marked by expansion to provide two extra playwork schemes.

Sit Tight Records (October 2004) is a new workers’ co-operative hip hop record label. Run for 2 years as an unincorporated partnership, the label has released records to critical acclaim in the national hip-hop press. Previously running the label alongside other work, Worker-directors Patrick Sheridan and Lenny Greenberg took the decision to step up the business with a planned growth in sales. After exploring the partnership and company options, Sit Tight opted for the workers’ co-operative company model: “It seemed the natural choice because it reflects our values, and collective way of working which you find in hip-hop culture. We wanted to find a way to support our label, remain ethical and allow participation and opportunity for people we work.”

Autoquip (August 2004) is an autoparts retail and trade counter. When the owner was looking to sell the business at the end of 2003, the staff did not want to see the business go to an unknown new owner and have the security of their jobs threatened. The CDA worked with the employees and owner to agree a price for the business. Finance was raised from local and national co-op loan funds. The workers formed the new workers’ co-op in August 2004 ready to buy the business from the old owner. Only one more hurdle had to be overcome; the owner was selling the premises for redevelopment and a new site had to be found. Once accomplished, on Monday 1st November the new co-op started to trade from its new home at 559-563 Fishponds Road (Opposite Lodge Causeway). For you car parts and accessories visit Autoquip and support this exciting new employee buyout with your trade or call on 0117 9585555 to check stock availability.

Health for All Ltd (June 2004) are a holistic therapy workers’ co-operative based in the Easton Area of Bristol and provide training and direct services within the field. For more information call: 0117 935 4828.

Momentum Co-operative Ltd (June 2004) provides a range of therapeutic services using music, movement and dance to a range of client groups. Momentum offers creative dance, music and movement sessions, which have a therapeutic value, to a variety of client groups. These sessions are planned specifically around the client’s needs and abilities and aim to provide a safe, contained space for individual expression and exploration. Added benefits are improved co-ordination, confidence and communication. For further information call 0117 9394976.

Action Time Vision Co-operative Ltd (March 2004) is a cinema based multi media venue based workers’ co-operative. Since registering in March, ATV has staged a 3 day Cinema as part of the Big Time 6 festival at the Malcolm X centre in St Pauls, and developed Bristol Sound and Vision04 in partnership with film production companies Exploding Pictures and Firstborn Creatives. As part of this programme in July Action Time Vision delivered 4 days of new media at Big Time 7 that included the making of a short film, and workshops on Web Filmmaking, Wireless Computing, DJ Skills and Hip Hop dance. For this programme they worked with Bristol Wireless 0117 902 5247, www.plugincinema.com, Funk It Up 07816 498774. For More Information about Action Time Vision Co-operative Ltd call 07970 416788.

Bristol Broadband Co-operative - "Dialect" (Feb 2004) are a community radio station who market their radio show as Dialect. Dialect broadcast using pioneering technology: internet streaming designed by sister company System Control. They are now broadcasting 3 programmes a week . They have an excellent website: http://radiodialect.net. For further information call 0117 942 9288.

Bristol Wireless (Oct 2003) - set up to address the digital divide by making broadband access available and accessible at low cost, Bristol Wireless are working closely with Bristol IT Co-operative. With the support of the CDA, Bristol Wireless have adopted the structure of a community co-operative.

Hello Interactive (Sept 2003) - Hello Interactive have run digital music workshops for young people in Bristol and the surrounding areas for the last three years. With the support of the CDA they have recently adopted the structure of a co-operative with great success.

Blaze Studios (Aug 2003) - It began with a group of six ceramicists wanting to set up a group workshop with the benefit of shared facilities, companionship and support. On their search for premises they stumbled upon a shop in Colston Street let by the Ethical Property Company at a very reasonable rent. This gave them the idea of combining workshop and gallery. That way they could sell their ceramics directly to the customers and see the public’s response to their work. With the support of the CDA they have recently adopted the structure of a service co-operative.

Zoom Co-operative Ltd (June 2003) - a new photographic processing co-operative that aims to become a supported co-operative run and controlled by people with learning difficulties. Zoom is currently in its development year and began trading in November 03. It is envisaged that the first learning disabled members will be recruited during the next 12 months.

Other news

Successful launch of C3 at Co-op Forum. At the Bristol and Bath Co-operative Forum event in January, co-ops from across the region gathered to find out how the C3 partnership can help them improve their performance.

The promise of becoming more Competitive, Confident and Credible by making use of advisor support, diagnostic tools and improvement resources was attractive to a number of co-ops, who also enjoyed the opportunity of networking with others and the excellent buffet provided by Café Mono.

One attendee said: “This event was well prepared and very relevant to our co-op. We really appreciated getting objective advice from an experienced and knowledgeable person.” Others talked about being “delighted by the networking opportunities” at the event.

For further information about the C3 partnership contact Katy Harkavy at Avon CDA, The Coach House, 2 Upper York Street, Bristol BS2 8QN; tel: 0117 989 2536; e-mail: communications@avoncda.coop or visit the C3 website at www.c3partnership.org

Jigsaw cuts its fifth birthday cake. Jigsaw - the successful catering co-operative venture for people with learning difficulties – recently celebrated its fifth birthday.

The project’s four cafes at Redfield, Southmead, St Pauls and Lawrence Weston help meet the need most often identified by people with learning difficulties - meaningful training and paid work. Jigsaw currently employs 18 people of all ages.

Councillor Peter Abraham, the Lord Mayor of Bristol, led the celebrations and the singing of "Happy Birthday, dear Jigsaw". He also complimented Jigsaw worker Chris Kunya for the good way in which he spoke about Jigsaw and introduced all the speakers.

Jigsaw is a partnership; Avon CDA worked with Social Services and Health, City of Bristol College and Jigsaw’s own employees to establish and develop the project. Social Services Service Manager Gill Scott acknowledged this and the important part a range of people had played. Many of these attended the birthday party and included: Karen Arnold, team manager; Keith Bates, CDA; Sheren McCann, Catering and Contracts Officer and Pat Bevan, from the College. Gill also played tribute to the role of ex-social services colleagues Dorothy Newman Anderson and Bill McKitterick.

Councillor John Kiely, Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services, attended the birthday party and said: "The project is raising awareness and demonstrating that people with a learning difficulty are competent and reliable workers. Jigsaw provides powerful role models for other people with learning difficulties who may be plucking up the courage to take a step towards new challenges. The additional benefit that the scheme provides is masses of confidence. Our Jigsaw workers shine with confidence and it’s really heartening to see."

Training for members of local co-operatives. Between Sept 2005 and Jan 2006 Avon CDA ran a successful programme of governance training for members and directors of local co-operatives:

Introductory training day for Co-operative Members
Weds 14 September 2005, Tues 8 November 2005, Tuesday 25 October 2005, Weds 18 January 2006
Finance and Financial Management for Co-operative Directors
Thurs 20 October 2005, Weds 25 January 2006
Company Secretaries and Regulatory bodies
Weds 7 December 2005
Co-operation, Democracy and Meeting skills
Tues 27 September 2005, Thurs 17 November 2005

For information about future delivery of training programmes, please contact the CDA.

C3 Partnership website launched. The C3 ("competitive, competent and credible") Partnership, of which Avon CDA is one of 11 organisations, promotes and supports the social enterprise sector across the West of England sub-region - the area covered by the CDA.
The new website offers information about the partnership as well as online support and advice through:
* The Performance Improvement Diagnostic: a step by step diagnostic tool to improving the way your organisation works
* C3 Resources: easy on-line access to C3 information, research and case studies.
* Knowledge base: access to advice for all your business queries
* The C3 Trade Association: a network of trading social economy organisations.
If you are interested, visit the site at http://www.c3partnership.org

A delivery plan for Social Enterprise support in the Wider West of England. In December a report was delivered to the West of England Social Enterprise Group which recommended an approach to support and develop the social enterprise sector in the wider West of England. Avon CDA led the research and consultation project which was funded by Regional Infrastructure for Social Enterprise (RISE) using resources provided by South West Regional Development. The delivery plan report can be downloaded as a PDF file (637 kb) by following this link: WESEG Delivery plan.

"Equal" bid succesful. On 10th September 2004 we heard that an application by the Bristol Social Economy Development Project to the European Union Equal Programme second round had been sucessfull . This will give a considerable boost to the BSEDP "Credible, Competititive and Confident Social Economy" development programme and to the CDA’s activities. Further details to follow in due course.

"All About Grants". A guide to grants and funding is available. Commended by Patricia Hewitt, Secretatry of State at the Department of Trade and Industry, this 16 page guide offers a thorough insight into official government assistance for business, explanations of how "grant and funding" schemes work, and details the "10 Golden Rules" for making Applications. It is relevant to all business sectors (for,and not-for-profit) including Social Enterprises and Community ventures, both existing small, medium size firms and individuals planning a new enterprise in each of the home countries. Follow this link for further information: www.govgrantsglobal.com/visitors/freeguide.html.

Governance and Participation Seminar. Co-operatives UK, in conjunction with ACDA held a G&P seminar on Thursday 16th of September for development professionals who come into contact with the social economy sector. Co-operatives UK introduced and distributed their G&P resource pack and toolkit to 10 participants from Bristol and the surrounding area. The Governance and Participation website can be viewed by following this link: http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/cme128.htm.

Dedicated Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Co-operative development project draws to a close. The project, entitled "Providing targeted business development support to Black and Minority Ethnic communities and also to the Creative Industries sector" saw Avon CDA a project that build on co-operative development work that has been available in Bristol for over 20 years. The project worker, David John, worked across wards covered by SRB and ERDF funding with a focus on the wards of Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill which have the highest BME populations and also the highest unemployment figures. The project was supported by Single Regeneration Budget, through Bristol Regeneration Partnership, and Bristol Means Business Consortium.
The BME Co-operative development worker’s key aims were to:

Promote the Co-operative option for enterprise in a cultural context to BME communities.
Increase the awareness of BME communities to the range of services available to support the development of new co-operative enterprise.
Generate information and recommendations regarding overcoming the barriers facing BME communities (i.e. language)
Work with existing initiatives to maximise efficient use of project time and existing resources.
Develop working practise appropriate to BME communities in designated SRB6 area.

Co-op Xchange launched for existing co-ops in Bristol. This e-mail group will encourage inter-trading and mutual aid amongst the existing co-operatives in the area. The list is open to any member of an existing co-operative and joining is easy... Send us an e-mail (click here) with your name, details of which co-op that you are a member of and requesting to join the e-group and we will take it from there.

The Co-op Forum held a ’Finance and funding evening’ at the Coach House which was well attended. There were speakers from Triodos Bank, ABCF (the local loan fund), The Co-op Group (Community Dividend fund) and Greater Bristol foundation (Social Enterprise Business Development Fund) and also The Phone Co-op.

Cube Cinema have sucessfully accessed £16,000 loan finance from ABCF (the local loan fund available to co-operatives and other social enterprises in the former Avon area). More about The Cube can be viewed here.

Single Regeneration Budget (SRB6) funding for a three year supported co-operative development project starting in April 2003 has been agreed. The project will create a new supported co-operative run by and for people with learning difficulties in Bristol.

Social Economy Business Development Fund - Development Grants of up to £15,000 are available for social economy organisations within Bristol to help them grow, in particular to pay for expert advice/training support. The Fund welcomes applications from community businesses and development trusts, credit unions, co-operatives and mutual companies, social firms and intermediate labour organisations and charity/community groups developing trading activities. Support is available to help with applications. For details contact Ronnie Brown, Greater Bristol Foundation, Royal Oak House, Bristol BS1 4GB; Tel: 0117 989 7700; email ronnie@gbf.org.uk

Co-operatives UK website goes live - check it out at www.cooperatives-uk.coop - it offers all the latest news and information from the organisation which represents co-operative enterprise in the UK.

If you are a local co-operative and have some news for the website please contact us.

Latest registrations and developments at Avon CDA

New co-operatives registered recently:

Other news