Perhaps the best known members of the co-operative movement are the large retail co-ops, but while credit unions are making their mark in the personal finance sector, other co-operatives are having an impact in the housing and social care sectors. Many companies are now registered as worker’s co-ops, sharing the decision making and the profits between a group of people with the same aims.

Credit unions have been fortunate to receive valuable support from their more established cousins in the co-operative movement. The Co-operative Bank is a long time supporter of ABCUL and credit unions, as is the Co-operative Group, which allows a number of credit unions to operate within its stores.

In the South West, members of a number of credit unions in Plymouth and Cornwall can access credit union services within the flagship department store of the Plymouth and South West Co-operative Society. Credit unions in Manchester, Nottingham and other areas all benefit from sharing space with Co-operative Group supermarkets, an arrangement which has benefits for both parties, bringing credit union members into stores, and providing attractive premises for the credit unions.

ABCUL is a member of Co-operatives UK. As the apex organisation for co-operative enterprise in the UK, they promote co-operative and mutual solutions, and work in partnership with their members to build a strong and successful co-operative movement.

Links to their site and to the uk.coop site, a directory of co-operatives throughout the UK are below, along with a link to the website of the Social Enterprise Coalition.

SEC is the voice of social enterprise in the UK. The website contains a wide range of resources for non-profit enterprises, including publications, links, event listings and case studies.