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Co-ops and their communities brace for the energy crisis CONNECTING, CHAMPIONING AND CHALLENGING THE GLOBAL CO-OP MOVEMENT SINCE 1871 Holyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester M60 0AS (00) 44 161 214 0870 www.thenews.coop editorial@thenews.coop EXECUTIVE EDITOR Rebecca Harvey | rebecca@thenews.coop INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Anca Voinea | anca@thenews.coop DIGITAL EDITOR Miles Hadfield | miles@thenews.coop EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Alice Toomer-McAlpine alice@thenews.coop DESIGN Andy Bellis | andy@thenews.coop DIRECTORS Elaine Dean (chair); David Paterson (vice-chair); Sofygil Crew; Tim Hartley; Phil Hartwell; Gillian Lonergan; Nick Milton; Beverley Perkins; Shaz Rahman; Lesley Reznicek Secretary: Richard Bickle Established in 1871, Co-operative News is published by Co-operative Press Ltd, a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Society Act 2014. It is printed every month by Buxton Press, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AE. Membership of Co-operative Press is open to individual readers as well as to other co-operatives, corporate bodies and unincorporated organisations. The Co-operative News mission statement is to connect, champion and challenge the global co-operative movement, through fair and objective journalism and open and honest comment and debate. Co-op News is, on occasion, supported by co-ops, but final editorial control remains with Co-operative News unless specifically labelled ‘advertorial’. The information and views set out in opinion articles and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Co-operative News. @coopnews cooperativenews CBP013875 With soaring energy bills adding to the cost of living crisis around the world, we have taken a closer look at its impact on co-operatives. Among the worst hit are small co-ops in the food sector, with co-op grocers like Wild Thyme Wholefoods in Portsmouth and Rice up Wholefoods in Southampton forced to close (p40-41). Community pubs such as the Bevy in Brighton are trying to address business challenges while supporting local communities through lunch clubs and free kids’ activities (p38-39). Larger co-op retailers in the UK and beyond have launched initiatives to support members, customers and employees with rising costs – with discounts on essential products, employee bonuses and free meals (p42-43). Meanwhile Co-op Group members and customers are being invited to take part in Join in Live, a national conversation about policy and priorities in these challenging times (p44-45). Paul Gosling explores how credit unions act as alternatives to high-cost payday lenders, with membership rising to an all-time high of 1.93 million (p36-37). Credit unions are also joining efforts with charities to provide free financial training (p34-35). We also look at how co-ops are retrofitting homes by providing site analysis, renovations, guidance and funding (p32-33) – and at the impact of the energy crisis on energy co-ops and their members (p30-31). The crisis comes on top of existing problems. In Jackson, Mississippi, where residents were left without drinking water, a network of worker co-ops is proposing co-op solutions to empower the local community (p28-29). In Zurich, co-ops already offer solutions to housing shortages, with co-op providers accounting for 25% of apartments in the city. The international coop housing movement met in the Swiss capital to explore how others might learn from its pioneering initiatives (p26-27). And we take a look at a slice of housing co-op history, with a project designed by Antoni Gaudi (p46-47). In the news, we have a special report on how co-ops paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after her death (p6-7). Co-ops can and do make a difference in many sectors. Yet, as the crisis accentuates, many will need adequate regulatory frameworks and financial support to continue their positive work. ANCA VOINEA - INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Co-operative News is printed using vegetable oil-based inks on 80% recycled paper (with 60% from post-consumer waste) with the remaining 20% produced from FSC or PEFC certified sources. It is made in a totally chlorine free process. OCTOBER <strong>2022</strong> | 3
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