Community Shares Unit
@comshares.bsky.social
All things Community Shares, a unique way of Co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies raising community based investment and building a movement. Brought to you by Co-operatives UK & partners.
https://linktr.ee/comshares
https://linktr.ee/comshares
Pinned
🙌 Great news for community business – the #ComShares Booster Fund is extending its support for community share offers, with a new tranche of funding: £360,000 for match equity investment and £200,000 for development grants. 🔎 Find out more: buff.ly/4i8dXr4 #CommunityBusiness #CommunityShares
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
Mike captures the need for a local solution to local housing need.
Please join us & our 77 investors & donors who have raised £42,150 to give local people a community owned affordable rented home in Heptonstall. @comshares.bsky.social @todmordentweets.bsky.social #heptonstall @hebweb.bsky.social
Please join us & our 77 investors & donors who have raised £42,150 to give local people a community owned affordable rented home in Heptonstall. @comshares.bsky.social @todmordentweets.bsky.social #heptonstall @hebweb.bsky.social
January 2, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Mike captures the need for a local solution to local housing need.
Please join us & our 77 investors & donors who have raised £42,150 to give local people a community owned affordable rented home in Heptonstall. @comshares.bsky.social @todmordentweets.bsky.social #heptonstall @hebweb.bsky.social
Please join us & our 77 investors & donors who have raised £42,150 to give local people a community owned affordable rented home in Heptonstall. @comshares.bsky.social @todmordentweets.bsky.social #heptonstall @hebweb.bsky.social
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
Whoop whoop!
Co-op Congress 2025 has been shortlisted by the Trade Associations Forum for 'Event of the Year'.
What did the President of the
@icacoop.bsky.social think of the event (and link to event recordings)? See the thread 👇
Co-op Congress 2025 has been shortlisted by the Trade Associations Forum for 'Event of the Year'.
What did the President of the
@icacoop.bsky.social think of the event (and link to event recordings)? See the thread 👇
December 23, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Whoop whoop!
Co-op Congress 2025 has been shortlisted by the Trade Associations Forum for 'Event of the Year'.
What did the President of the
@icacoop.bsky.social think of the event (and link to event recordings)? See the thread 👇
Co-op Congress 2025 has been shortlisted by the Trade Associations Forum for 'Event of the Year'.
What did the President of the
@icacoop.bsky.social think of the event (and link to event recordings)? See the thread 👇
'A historic year for co-operation' read @rosemarley.bsky.social reflections on a busy 2025 inc growing co-operatives on the ground through community shares and community ownership, with new support in 2026 from @esmeefairbairn.bsky.social
www.uk.coop/blog/histori...
www.uk.coop/blog/histori...
December 23, 2025 at 12:04 PM
'A historic year for co-operation' read @rosemarley.bsky.social reflections on a busy 2025 inc growing co-operatives on the ground through community shares and community ownership, with new support in 2026 from @esmeefairbairn.bsky.social
www.uk.coop/blog/histori...
www.uk.coop/blog/histori...
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
Its not necessarily going to be easy but it could be a gamechanger for some communities www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... @democraticfinance.bsky.social @dtascotland.bsky.social
The communities seeking to cash in on wind turbine ownership
New Scottish government proposals will give local groups a head start when renewable energy projects on public land come up for new leases.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Its not necessarily going to be easy but it could be a gamechanger for some communities www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... @democraticfinance.bsky.social @dtascotland.bsky.social
Kings Heath Community Centre and their share offer is featured on the BBC website.
Over 300 people so far have stepped forward and invested to save the future of the centre, see more here:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
& on @crowdfunder.bsky.social here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kings-heat...
Over 300 people so far have stepped forward and invested to save the future of the centre, see more here:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
& on @crowdfunder.bsky.social here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kings-heat...
Share scheme for 'hugely underused' Birmingham community centre
Kings Heath community centre is one of 11 being disposed of by the city council due to budget cuts.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Kings Heath Community Centre and their share offer is featured on the BBC website.
Over 300 people so far have stepped forward and invested to save the future of the centre, see more here:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
& on @crowdfunder.bsky.social here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kings-heat...
Over 300 people so far have stepped forward and invested to save the future of the centre, see more here:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
& on @crowdfunder.bsky.social here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kings-heat...
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
£2,000 donation received today! Moving us closer to turning Stuart's house into a community owned affordable rented secure home for people age 35 or under.
Join our 67 investors & invest (2% return) or donate.
caldervalleyclt.org.uk/northfield-s...
#heptonstall @todmordentweets.bsky.social
Join our 67 investors & invest (2% return) or donate.
caldervalleyclt.org.uk/northfield-s...
#heptonstall @todmordentweets.bsky.social
December 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
£2,000 donation received today! Moving us closer to turning Stuart's house into a community owned affordable rented secure home for people age 35 or under.
Join our 67 investors & invest (2% return) or donate.
caldervalleyclt.org.uk/northfield-s...
#heptonstall @todmordentweets.bsky.social
Join our 67 investors & invest (2% return) or donate.
caldervalleyclt.org.uk/northfield-s...
#heptonstall @todmordentweets.bsky.social
🍻Good to see @goodfinanceuk.bsky.social cover The Punch Bowl Inn in North Yorkshire and their community share offer to save the pub, including a little investment from our Booster Fund, a lovely positive story.
£312,000 raised from 360 investors.
Read more below⏬
£312,000 raised from 360 investors.
Read more below⏬
What does it take to save a beloved village pub? 🍻
When The Punch Bowl Inn in North Yorkshire faced closure, the community didn’t walk away — they stepped in to secure its future. But how did they find the funding?
👉Read the full story in our new blog with Plunkett UK
bit.ly/4925GlJ
When The Punch Bowl Inn in North Yorkshire faced closure, the community didn’t walk away — they stepped in to secure its future. But how did they find the funding?
👉Read the full story in our new blog with Plunkett UK
bit.ly/4925GlJ
December 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
🍻Good to see @goodfinanceuk.bsky.social cover The Punch Bowl Inn in North Yorkshire and their community share offer to save the pub, including a little investment from our Booster Fund, a lovely positive story.
£312,000 raised from 360 investors.
Read more below⏬
£312,000 raised from 360 investors.
Read more below⏬
Check our our Linktree for quick links to all the community shares resources you might need!
linktr.ee/comshares
linktr.ee/comshares
comshares | Instagram | Linktree
Links from the Community Shares Unit, brought to you by Co-operatives UK
linktr.ee
December 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Check our our Linktree for quick links to all the community shares resources you might need!
linktr.ee/comshares
linktr.ee/comshares
The village where a third of people invested in their community shop!
Community shares & Cheriton Fitzpaine in the BBC
bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"it's absolutely fabulous.. No shop, no village."
Community shares & Cheriton Fitzpaine in the BBC
bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"it's absolutely fabulous.. No shop, no village."
Villagers rally to save shop and chapel in Cheriton Fitzpaine
Villagers raise more than £100,000 to save the shop and Methodist chapel in Cheriton Fitzpaine.
bbc.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The village where a third of people invested in their community shop!
Community shares & Cheriton Fitzpaine in the BBC
bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"it's absolutely fabulous.. No shop, no village."
Community shares & Cheriton Fitzpaine in the BBC
bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"it's absolutely fabulous.. No shop, no village."
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
👏 Call for evidence: Our time is now. Last week, the Chancellor announced a once-in-a-generation consultation on #coops growth. We're inviting members to shape our sector's response – to include the needs and aspirations of co‑operatives large and small, in every sector... 🧵👇
December 5, 2025 at 12:15 PM
👏 Call for evidence: Our time is now. Last week, the Chancellor announced a once-in-a-generation consultation on #coops growth. We're inviting members to shape our sector's response – to include the needs and aspirations of co‑operatives large and small, in every sector... 🧵👇
🍻Community shares offer helps reclaim the New Clarence Pub in #Hull.
🫂A rare urban community pub, brought into community hands and now with 440 investor members!
www.uk.coop/case-studies...
🫂A rare urban community pub, brought into community hands and now with 440 investor members!
www.uk.coop/case-studies...
December 2, 2025 at 5:01 PM
🍻Community shares offer helps reclaim the New Clarence Pub in #Hull.
🫂A rare urban community pub, brought into community hands and now with 440 investor members!
www.uk.coop/case-studies...
🫂A rare urban community pub, brought into community hands and now with 440 investor members!
www.uk.coop/case-studies...
Huge congratulations to @musicvenueprop.bsky.social with #OwnOurVenues raising a huge £1.5m to save even more grass roots music venues, with 1,300+ new investor members including @cooperativesuk.bsky.social!
@coopnews.bsky.social @rosemarley.bsky.social
@coopnews.bsky.social @rosemarley.bsky.social
£1.5 million raised. Target hit... and then some.
Huge congratulations to Music Venue Properties, who’ve officially smashed their investment target, raising over £1.5 million to put UK grassroots venues into permanent community ownership.
Huge congratulations to Music Venue Properties, who’ve officially smashed their investment target, raising over £1.5 million to put UK grassroots venues into permanent community ownership.
November 19, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Huge congratulations to @musicvenueprop.bsky.social with #OwnOurVenues raising a huge £1.5m to save even more grass roots music venues, with 1,300+ new investor members including @cooperativesuk.bsky.social!
@coopnews.bsky.social @rosemarley.bsky.social
@coopnews.bsky.social @rosemarley.bsky.social
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
£250m in profits
Private equity payouts
Care workers on poverty pay
The care system isn't broken. It’s been hollowed out - turned into a commodity that extracts from people, not for them.
There is another way: buff.ly/kakIcfA
#Coops #CareCrisis #WednesdayWisdom
Private equity payouts
Care workers on poverty pay
The care system isn't broken. It’s been hollowed out - turned into a commodity that extracts from people, not for them.
There is another way: buff.ly/kakIcfA
#Coops #CareCrisis #WednesdayWisdom
Private care providers in three English regions make £250m in three years
More than third of profits analysed went to firms owned by private equity or based in tax havens, research finds
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:29 AM
£250m in profits
Private equity payouts
Care workers on poverty pay
The care system isn't broken. It’s been hollowed out - turned into a commodity that extracts from people, not for them.
There is another way: buff.ly/kakIcfA
#Coops #CareCrisis #WednesdayWisdom
Private equity payouts
Care workers on poverty pay
The care system isn't broken. It’s been hollowed out - turned into a commodity that extracts from people, not for them.
There is another way: buff.ly/kakIcfA
#Coops #CareCrisis #WednesdayWisdom
Get inspired by communities raising their own investment! We publish all new community share offers with our Standard Mark accreditation online and on instagram.
🕸️ www.uk.coop/share-offers
📸 www.instagram.com/comshares
🕸️ www.uk.coop/share-offers
📸 www.instagram.com/comshares
November 7, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Get inspired by communities raising their own investment! We publish all new community share offers with our Standard Mark accreditation online and on instagram.
🕸️ www.uk.coop/share-offers
📸 www.instagram.com/comshares
🕸️ www.uk.coop/share-offers
📸 www.instagram.com/comshares
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
Are you a young person passionate about community, collaboration and creating change? 🌍
Join our Community Calls - a monthly online meet-up bringing together young people from across the UK who share co-operative values. 📣
1/3
Join our Community Calls - a monthly online meet-up bringing together young people from across the UK who share co-operative values. 📣
1/3
October 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Are you a young person passionate about community, collaboration and creating change? 🌍
Join our Community Calls - a monthly online meet-up bringing together young people from across the UK who share co-operative values. 📣
1/3
Join our Community Calls - a monthly online meet-up bringing together young people from across the UK who share co-operative values. 📣
1/3
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
⏰ Less than 3 weeks until Practitioners Forum, Manchester, 6 November. Our biggest training and development day for co-operatives is packed with insight and learning focused on HR, finance and assurance, membership, governance and communications – plus lots of networking! Join us 👉 www.uk.coop/pf
October 17, 2025 at 1:01 PM
⏰ Less than 3 weeks until Practitioners Forum, Manchester, 6 November. Our biggest training and development day for co-operatives is packed with insight and learning focused on HR, finance and assurance, membership, governance and communications – plus lots of networking! Join us 👉 www.uk.coop/pf
📃We now publish details of all community share offers with our Standard Mark online here:
uk.coop/share-offers
✅This is our gold standard awarded to community share offers based on an independent assessment against agreed good practice criteria.
uk.coop/share-offers
✅This is our gold standard awarded to community share offers based on an independent assessment against agreed good practice criteria.
October 22, 2025 at 3:51 PM
📃We now publish details of all community share offers with our Standard Mark online here:
uk.coop/share-offers
✅This is our gold standard awarded to community share offers based on an independent assessment against agreed good practice criteria.
uk.coop/share-offers
✅This is our gold standard awarded to community share offers based on an independent assessment against agreed good practice criteria.
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
🎬 A new film for you! Co-operatives: Owned by our Members showcases the values, diversity and impact of co-operatives across the UK – and beyond. It's been created in the #IYC2025 to help increase understanding of #coops 👉 youtu.be/9jddNpXI-Lw
🧵👇
🧵👇
Co-operatives: Owned by our members | Co-operatives UK
YouTube video by Co-operatives UK
youtu.be
October 16, 2025 at 2:45 PM
🎬 A new film for you! Co-operatives: Owned by our Members showcases the values, diversity and impact of co-operatives across the UK – and beyond. It's been created in the #IYC2025 to help increase understanding of #coops 👉 youtu.be/9jddNpXI-Lw
🧵👇
🧵👇
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
Congratulations to our friends at @cooperativesuk.bsky.social and all in the UK's co-op & mutual economy 👏
✅ 82% survive 5+ years (vs 39% of other biz)
✅ 65.7m memberships
✅ Women lead 2x more top co-ops than FTSE 100 firms
✅ 4x more likely to pay the Living Wage
✅ Community pubs up 51% in 5 years
✅ 82% survive 5+ years (vs 39% of other biz)
✅ 65.7m memberships
✅ Women lead 2x more top co-ops than FTSE 100 firms
✅ 4x more likely to pay the Living Wage
✅ Community pubs up 51% in 5 years
📢 New data out today: The UK’s co-operative and mutual economy is a £179bn force for change.
10,000+ businesses. 1.5 million jobs.
Find out why our movement is doing business better - and share far and wide: www.uk.coop/news/record-... #CoopEconomy #Coops
10,000+ businesses. 1.5 million jobs.
Find out why our movement is doing business better - and share far and wide: www.uk.coop/news/record-... #CoopEconomy #Coops
October 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Congratulations to our friends at @cooperativesuk.bsky.social and all in the UK's co-op & mutual economy 👏
✅ 82% survive 5+ years (vs 39% of other biz)
✅ 65.7m memberships
✅ Women lead 2x more top co-ops than FTSE 100 firms
✅ 4x more likely to pay the Living Wage
✅ Community pubs up 51% in 5 years
✅ 82% survive 5+ years (vs 39% of other biz)
✅ 65.7m memberships
✅ Women lead 2x more top co-ops than FTSE 100 firms
✅ 4x more likely to pay the Living Wage
✅ Community pubs up 51% in 5 years
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
🧵 Co-operative Network Infrastructure (CNI) has built a co-operative alternative to traditional fibre networks - putting fairness and shared ownership at the heart of the digital economy. Want to know more??? 1/3
October 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
🧵 Co-operative Network Infrastructure (CNI) has built a co-operative alternative to traditional fibre networks - putting fairness and shared ownership at the heart of the digital economy. Want to know more??? 1/3
Community raises £400k to save village's only pub
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Save Our Ship team and the Community Shares Standard Mark makes its way onto BBC News!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Save Our Ship team and the Community Shares Standard Mark makes its way onto BBC News!
Drinkers in Portloe raise £400k to save village's only pub
The group of residents now hope to get the Cornwall pub restored and ready in time for Christmas.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Community raises £400k to save village's only pub
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Save Our Ship team and the Community Shares Standard Mark makes its way onto BBC News!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Save Our Ship team and the Community Shares Standard Mark makes its way onto BBC News!
👨💻Webinar this afternoon: Co-operatives and the Gov's plan for neighbourhoods, find out more how co-ops and #comshares could be part of the solution to neighbourhood empowered change!
www.uk.coop/webinar-co-o...
www.uk.coop/webinar-co-o...
www.uk.coop
October 13, 2025 at 8:57 AM
👨💻Webinar this afternoon: Co-operatives and the Gov's plan for neighbourhoods, find out more how co-ops and #comshares could be part of the solution to neighbourhood empowered change!
www.uk.coop/webinar-co-o...
www.uk.coop/webinar-co-o...
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
🏠💡 We’re calling on government to support co‑ops to make homes more energy efficient.
👓 Read our new report: Retrofit Co‑operatives🔧🧰
🛋️ 🌡️ Millions of households want warmer, greener homes – but are put off by confusing markets, missing skills and poor advice. (1/3)
👓 Read our new report: Retrofit Co‑operatives🔧🧰
🛋️ 🌡️ Millions of households want warmer, greener homes – but are put off by confusing markets, missing skills and poor advice. (1/3)
October 3, 2025 at 7:00 AM
🏠💡 We’re calling on government to support co‑ops to make homes more energy efficient.
👓 Read our new report: Retrofit Co‑operatives🔧🧰
🛋️ 🌡️ Millions of households want warmer, greener homes – but are put off by confusing markets, missing skills and poor advice. (1/3)
👓 Read our new report: Retrofit Co‑operatives🔧🧰
🛋️ 🌡️ Millions of households want warmer, greener homes – but are put off by confusing markets, missing skills and poor advice. (1/3)
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
Did you know mutuals trace their roots to The Fire Office, a mutual insurer established in 1667 - the year after the Great Fire of London? It shows the enduring power of mutuals to find solutions. 1/2
October 9, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Did you know mutuals trace their roots to The Fire Office, a mutual insurer established in 1667 - the year after the Great Fire of London? It shows the enduring power of mutuals to find solutions. 1/2
🥶As it gets colder, we have grant funds still available for Energy Efficiency improvements in your community building, see our Sharematch fund with @crowdfunder.bsky.social for details:
😎https://www.uk.coop/support-your-co-op/community-shares/support/energy-efficiency-sharematch
😎https://www.uk.coop/support-your-co-op/community-shares/support/energy-efficiency-sharematch
October 9, 2025 at 9:11 AM
🥶As it gets colder, we have grant funds still available for Energy Efficiency improvements in your community building, see our Sharematch fund with @crowdfunder.bsky.social for details:
😎https://www.uk.coop/support-your-co-op/community-shares/support/energy-efficiency-sharematch
😎https://www.uk.coop/support-your-co-op/community-shares/support/energy-efficiency-sharematch