What we do

We have been at the heart of Wales’s vibrant social economy since 1982, bringing funders and partners together to make our communities more confident, ambitious, and more co-operative.

See this page in: Cymraeg

The Wales Co-operative Centre is the UK’s largest co-operative development agency, providing business support for social businesses and co-operatives, including growth and new start businesses; social care co-ops, housing co-ops, and community-owned facilities.

We also work with organisations to improve the use of digital technology for health and well-being, and help communities develop businesses or projects which value people and the environment as much as profit.

Our aim is to influence, inform and respond to Welsh public policy. It is publicly supported and funded and is a leading support and training organisation for co-operatives and social enterprises in Wales.

So whether you run a social enterprise and need support, looking to start co-operative housing, considering employee ownership or anything in between, we’re here to help you.

We work across Wales to promote social, financial and digital inclusion through a range of projects:

 

Wales Co-operative Centre Logo

 

 

Social Business Wales - Growth

Social Business Wales - Growth are a team of experts that help social business to become sustainable, enabling them to have a strong platform from which to grow. They're part of the Social Business Wales programme which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government, and delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

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Employee Ownership Wales

Part of the Social Business Wales programme, Employee Ownership Wales is a campaign aimed at anyone wanting to sell their business or those who are looking to grow their business and reward and retain staff. By transferring ownership to employees, business owners can enjoy the maximum value of their business and improve business performance whilst also ensuring that their legacy will last.

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Social Business Wales - New Start

Social Business Wales - New Start is a team of business advisers who specialise in setting up new social enterprises. They're part of the Social Business Wales programme which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government, and delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

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Digital Communities Wales

Digital Communities Wales wants a Wales where everyone has the skills, access and motivation to be a confident user of digital technology. During the Covid-19 crisis, it helped care home residents see their families and stay connected through a tablet loan scheme, which saw 1,035 devices delivered to 575 care homes across Wales.

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Communities Creating Homes

Communities Creating Homes helps people develop their own community-led housing schemes. As well as improving housing provision, the project strives to create a resilient, more equal Wales, and a Wales of cohesive communities.

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Connecting Carers

Our Connecting Carers team provides support to people in Bridgend who want to set up or run well-being services in a more collaborative, co-operative and inclusive way. We believe that services are better when the people who need support and the people who provide support work closely together.

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Community Shares Wales Resilience Project

Community shares can save local facilities and build stronger, more vibrant and independent communities. Community Shares Wales Resilience Project helps communities raise investment to protect and strengthen the things that matter to them.

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Social Leaders Wales

Clore Social Leadership, in partnership with the Wales Co-Operative Centre, is launching a new leadership development programme for the Welsh third sector in 2021. The programme will serve at least 150 Welsh leaders working in the third sector at various stages of their career; it will be open to leaders in all parts of Wales; and it will be conducted fully online and will carry no cost to the participants.

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Find out more about our achievements and the history of the Wales Co-operative Centre

  • Policy and communications internship

    Our achievements

    We are proud that our achievements and workplace culture have been recognised by others.

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  • Miners gathered at Tower Colliery

    Our History

    We have a long history of supporting co-operatives and social enterprises at the Wales Co-operative Centre. Here are the key events that led us to where we are...

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  • CSWRP

    What is a Co-operative?

    This guide explains the basic principles of co-operative business, including its advantages, types of co-operatives and a history of co-ops in Wales.

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