Co-operation, Social Enterprise & the Act
History of the Co-operative movement
The co-operative movement has a long and varied history. To find out more about the history of the movement visit:
Visit WebsiteThe Social Services and Well-being Wales Act
Social Care Wales has developed a number of resources on The Social Services and Well-being Wales Act. All of these can be found on their Information and Learning Hub website:
Visit WebsiteCo-ops UK video on 'What is a Co-operative'
Co-ops UK have put together a short animation which explains what a co-operative is:
Watch on YouTubeGetting Social Businesses in on The Act
Social Business Wales and Wales Co-operative Centre have produced a guide to help Social Businesses understand the opportunities within the Social Services and Well-being Wales Act:
Download PDFEasy read Co-operative principles
Barod CIC helped us to produce the International Principles of Co-operation in easy read format.
Download PDFWhat are user led co-operatives?
This set of five factsheets, developed by Disability Wales and the Social Co-operation Forum, are designed to help you implement the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, with a specific focus on user-led co-operatives.
Visit websiteSocial Services and Well-being Wales Act: ‘What does the Act mean for me?’ Social Care Wales video
Social Care Wales have created a 10 minute animation on what the Social Services and Well-being Wales Act means for people giving care and support and those who receive care and support:
Watch on YouTubeWell-being of Future Generations Act Video
Welsh Government have created a short animation on the positive impact The Well-being of Future Generations Act will have and tells you more about what they are doing and why.
Watch on YouTubeSocial Services and Well-being Wales Act Mark Drakeford Video
Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. Minister for Health and Social Services Mark Drakeford AM speaks about the cultural shift brought about by the new legislation and making the most of this once in a generation opportunity
Watch on YouTubeCo-op Economy Report 2017
Every year Co-ops UK produce a report on the economic activity of co-operatives in the UK across a range of sectors. To read the full report follow the link below.
Visit websiteRegional partnership boards
For more information on Regional Partnership Boards follow this link to the Social Care Wales website:
Visit WebsiteActivity 1 template
It may be useful for you to think about think about how the services your group run or would like to run link well-being definitions.
DownloadTranscript for Topic 1
If you would like to read the text that accompanies the video for Topic 1, please download the PowerPoint presentation below.
Download PresentationStrategy
Co-operative Assistance Network - Business Planning Guide
This guide, produced by the Co-operative Assistance Network, will help you to plan your social business including helping you with your mission statement and a feasibility checklist.
DownloadVision, Mission, Aims
This website will help you to understand your vision, mission and aims. It can give you step by step guidance on creating your vision, mission and aims.
Visit websiteVision, Mission, Values
This website can also provide help in forming your mission, vision and values. There are downloadable worksheets which you may find useful.
Visit websiteTranscript for Topic 2.1
If you would like to read the text that accompanies the video for Topic 2.1, please download the PowerPoint presentation below.
Download PresentationLegal Structures
Guide to Voluntary and Community Legal Structures
This guide has been produced primarily for people who are thinking about setting up a new voluntary or community group and outlines some of the key considerations and steps that need to be taken
DownloadComparing different company structures
We’ve pulled together a document that lists the positives and negatives of each structure (Company Ltd by guarantee, C.I.C, C.I.O, Co-operative and Community benefit societies and Charitable companies). We’ve also listed the associated registration fees.
Download PDFLegal Structures
Social Business Wales have put together a guide on the various legal structures available to Social Businesses.
Visit websiteSimply Legal – Legal forms for community enterprises
Co-ops Uk have produced a guide on legal forms and organisational types for community based enterprises:
DownloadFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA)
The Financial Conduct Authority is one body a company can register with. Co-operatives and Community benefit societies are regulated by the FCA.
Visit websiteCompanies House
Companies House incorporates and dissolves limited companies, registers the information companies are legally required to supply, and makes that information available to the public.
Visit websiteThe Charity Commission
The charity commission registers and regulates charities in England and Wales, to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence.
Visit websiteList of Charitable purposes
To be a charity in England and Wales an organisation must have an exclusively charitable purpose and benefit the public. We've listed the 13 charitable purposes in this document.
Download DOCXThe Hive – Select a Structure Tool
Co-ops UK have created a ‘Select a structure’ tool to help you choose the best structure for your organisation.
Visit websiteFinding finance - Business Wales
All businesses will need to consider finding finance to support them. Business Wales has pulled together information on the various options available.
Visit websiteGovernance
Good co-operative governance - Co-ops UK
A panel looking at best practice for 'good governance' for co-operatively run businesses has devised the governance wheel. It depicts the key areas of governance that should be in place within a thriving co-operative business. For more information visit the Co-ops Uk website.
Visit websiteDuties of co-operative directors
For more information on the duties of Co-operative directors please visit the Co-ops UK website.
Visit websiteCo-ops UK - In depth guides on board roles
The secretary, board of directors and its chair play a vital role in the successful running of any business, and in a co-operative they are particularly significant. Co-ops UK have written in-depth guides set out the statutory and business requirements of chairs and directors of co-operatives
Visit websiteHolding effective meetings - Co-operantics
Holding productive and effective meetings is a key element of running a co-operative. Co-operantics have developed a number of guides on running effective co-operative meetings.
Visit websiteAGM checklist
Depending on your constitution you may hold an AGM as part of your governing processes. We’ve found a handy checklist to help guide you in this process. This checklist will also be useful for general meetings you may hold.
Visit websiteOpportunities for services
Care and Share Associates (CASA) Home care
CASA is the UK’s leading employee-owned homecare provider and one of its most successful social enterprises.
Visit websiteStories.coop - World’s first global, digital campaign to spread the benefits of cooperation through the tradition of story-telling
Stories.coop is the World’s first global, digital campaign to spread the benefits of cooperation through the tradition of story-telling. The website features many useful case studies on social care co-operatives internationally.
Visit websiteSocial Co-operation Forum Wales
The Social Co-operation Forum is a membership network promoting co-operative models of social care and well-being. They promote social care innovation in Wales based on co-operative values and methods of working, with particular but not exclusive emphasis on user-controlled delivery models.
Visit websiteSell2Wales
The Sell2Wales website provides information and opportunities for social businesses to bid for contracts. Contracts are offered by a wide range of publicly-funded organisations such as Local Authorities, NHS trusts, Welsh Government and Colleges & Universities. This site is produced by Welsh Government.
Visit websiteFlintshire County Council procurement process
Find out how Flintshire County Council advertise tenders for goods and services as well as information on the procurement process.
Visit websiteSwansea County Council procurement process
Find out how Swansea County Council advertise tenders for goods and services as well as information on the procurement process.
Visit websiteCarmarthenshire County Council procurement process
Carmarthenshire County council has outlined how it advertises contracts. This website outlines why they encourage the inclusion of community benefits within tender responses.
Visit websiteWrexham County Council procurement process
Find out how Wrexham County Council advertise tenders for goods and services as well as information on the procurement process.
Visit websiteMerthyr County Council
Find out how Merthyr County Council advertise tenders for goods and services as well as information on the procurement process.
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