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
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
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
We've got a 'Dame' good testimonial for the #CoopEconomy report... from someone who really knows!
And if you want more info 👇
uk.coop/news/record-... #coops #TuesdayThoughts
And if you want more info 👇
uk.coop/news/record-... #coops #TuesdayThoughts
October 7, 2025 at 11:56 AM
We've got a 'Dame' good testimonial for the #CoopEconomy report... from someone who really knows!
And if you want more info 👇
uk.coop/news/record-... #coops #TuesdayThoughts
And if you want more info 👇
uk.coop/news/record-... #coops #TuesdayThoughts
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
We launched our Co-operative and Mutual Economy report last week.
Here's a 1-minute highlight VT for a £179.2 million economic force for good, highlighting resilience, fairness, growth and more.
Full report here: www.uk.coop/economy
#CoopEconomy #IYC2025
Here's a 1-minute highlight VT for a £179.2 million economic force for good, highlighting resilience, fairness, growth and more.
Full report here: www.uk.coop/economy
#CoopEconomy #IYC2025
September 30, 2025 at 8:02 AM
We launched our Co-operative and Mutual Economy report last week.
Here's a 1-minute highlight VT for a £179.2 million economic force for good, highlighting resilience, fairness, growth and more.
Full report here: www.uk.coop/economy
#CoopEconomy #IYC2025
Here's a 1-minute highlight VT for a £179.2 million economic force for good, highlighting resilience, fairness, growth and more.
Full report here: www.uk.coop/economy
#CoopEconomy #IYC2025
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
Co-operatives do business better:
💷 4x more likely to be Living Wage Employers
📈 82% survive 5 years (vs 39% UK average)
👩💼 Women more likely to reach the top
Explore the #CoopEconomy 👇
uk.coop/news/record-...
💷 4x more likely to be Living Wage Employers
📈 82% survive 5 years (vs 39% UK average)
👩💼 Women more likely to reach the top
Explore the #CoopEconomy 👇
uk.coop/news/record-...
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Co-operatives do business better:
💷 4x more likely to be Living Wage Employers
📈 82% survive 5 years (vs 39% UK average)
👩💼 Women more likely to reach the top
Explore the #CoopEconomy 👇
uk.coop/news/record-...
💷 4x more likely to be Living Wage Employers
📈 82% survive 5 years (vs 39% UK average)
👩💼 Women more likely to reach the top
Explore the #CoopEconomy 👇
uk.coop/news/record-...
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
📢 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
September 23, 2025 at 7:59 AM
📢 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
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
📢 We’ve partnered with @dtascotland.bsky.social to bring you a free webinar about the Community Shares finance guide, aimed at organisations that have run community share offers and are based in Scotland.
🗓️ 8 Oct, 10:00–11:30
💻 Online via Zoom.
Register here: buff.ly/8dY5Gxp
#comshares #Scotland
🗓️ 8 Oct, 10:00–11:30
💻 Online via Zoom.
Register here: buff.ly/8dY5Gxp
#comshares #Scotland
September 11, 2025 at 8:01 AM
📢 We’ve partnered with @dtascotland.bsky.social to bring you a free webinar about the Community Shares finance guide, aimed at organisations that have run community share offers and are based in Scotland.
🗓️ 8 Oct, 10:00–11:30
💻 Online via Zoom.
Register here: buff.ly/8dY5Gxp
#comshares #Scotland
🗓️ 8 Oct, 10:00–11:30
💻 Online via Zoom.
Register here: buff.ly/8dY5Gxp
#comshares #Scotland
🥵New community share offer from Leeds Community Sauna, with Community Shares Standard Mark.
♨️They are creating a community-oriented, affordable sauna space nestled amongst the trees and the river Aire #leeds
🌡️Invest from £25
www.leedscommunitysauna.com/share-offer
@cooperativesuk.bsky.social
♨️They are creating a community-oriented, affordable sauna space nestled amongst the trees and the river Aire #leeds
🌡️Invest from £25
www.leedscommunitysauna.com/share-offer
@cooperativesuk.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 9:27 AM
🥵New community share offer from Leeds Community Sauna, with Community Shares Standard Mark.
♨️They are creating a community-oriented, affordable sauna space nestled amongst the trees and the river Aire #leeds
🌡️Invest from £25
www.leedscommunitysauna.com/share-offer
@cooperativesuk.bsky.social
♨️They are creating a community-oriented, affordable sauna space nestled amongst the trees and the river Aire #leeds
🌡️Invest from £25
www.leedscommunitysauna.com/share-offer
@cooperativesuk.bsky.social
Hull’s first community-owned pub, The New Clarence is set to open its doors and covered in BBC news!
Pleased through Booster we've been able to help them with their community share raise to help pay for this urban community owned pub.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Pleased through Booster we've been able to help them with their community share raise to help pay for this urban community owned pub.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
New Clarence pub in Charles Street, Hull, will reopen to public
The New Clarence, in Hull, will reopen its doors on Saturday after a community effort to save it.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Hull’s first community-owned pub, The New Clarence is set to open its doors and covered in BBC news!
Pleased through Booster we've been able to help them with their community share raise to help pay for this urban community owned pub.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Pleased through Booster we've been able to help them with their community share raise to help pay for this urban community owned pub.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
🏴 Scotland deserves better. A stronger, fairer, more democratic economy is possible. Co-ops already prove it – from housing to food, energy to jobs. With the right policies, they can do even more. Ahead of the 2026 elections, we’re calling on all parties to back co-ops. Get involved buff.ly/7sW7Auw
August 19, 2025 at 8:01 AM
🏴 Scotland deserves better. A stronger, fairer, more democratic economy is possible. Co-ops already prove it – from housing to food, energy to jobs. With the right policies, they can do even more. Ahead of the 2026 elections, we’re calling on all parties to back co-ops. Get involved buff.ly/7sW7Auw
Co-operative societies can now be awarded the Community Shares Standard Mark: ✔️
➡️https://uk.coop/blog/co-operative-societies-can-now-be-awarded-standard-mark
📝We have a new framework specifically for use with co-operative societies that have a non-user member category...
➡️https://uk.coop/blog/co-operative-societies-can-now-be-awarded-standard-mark
📝We have a new framework specifically for use with co-operative societies that have a non-user member category...
August 21, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Co-operative societies can now be awarded the Community Shares Standard Mark: ✔️
➡️https://uk.coop/blog/co-operative-societies-can-now-be-awarded-standard-mark
📝We have a new framework specifically for use with co-operative societies that have a non-user member category...
➡️https://uk.coop/blog/co-operative-societies-can-now-be-awarded-standard-mark
📝We have a new framework specifically for use with co-operative societies that have a non-user member category...
Reposted by Community Shares Unit
💥 2,000+ members 🎶 £1 million+ raised 🏛️ Iconic music venues saved!
⏳ Only 8 hours to go and @musicvenueprop.bsky.social has raised more than £1 million in community shares to #OwnOurVenues! 🎹 (1/2)
⏳ Only 8 hours to go and @musicvenueprop.bsky.social has raised more than £1 million in community shares to #OwnOurVenues! 🎹 (1/2)
July 31, 2025 at 1:49 PM
💥 2,000+ members 🎶 £1 million+ raised 🏛️ Iconic music venues saved!
⏳ Only 8 hours to go and @musicvenueprop.bsky.social has raised more than £1 million in community shares to #OwnOurVenues! 🎹 (1/2)
⏳ Only 8 hours to go and @musicvenueprop.bsky.social has raised more than £1 million in community shares to #OwnOurVenues! 🎹 (1/2)