The Plunkett Foundation’s primary purpose is to improve the livelihood of rural residents through co-operative and social enterprise. The objective of Plunkett is to be recognised nationally and internationally as the premier organisation concerned with the theory and practice of rural co-operation.

Our founder, Sir Horace Plunkett, pioneered economic self-help solutions to rural problems in Ireland. From the dairy co-operatives he initiated grew the largest businesses in Ireland, with some becoming multinational food groups. The message from this experience is clear: rural communities have the capacity to solve their own problems if they are provided with the right guidance, expertise and support. The Plunkett Foundation was established to sustain this vision beyond the time and place of Plunkett’s lifetime work.

The problems facing rural communities differ from country to country and change over time. In many parts of the world agriculture continues to form the backbone of the rural economy. Consequently, the benefits that can derive from agricultural co-operation have a disproportionate impact on the wealth of the entire rural community. In the European Union, agriculture accounts for a small and declining part of the rural economy. Changing patterns of rural lifestyle are resulting in the closure of local services, creating the fear of isolation and social exclusion. Many forms of economic self-help are emerging to enable rural communities to own and manage services in the absence of adequate provision from investor-led businesses.

The Plunkett Foundation today applies the principles of its founder to address current rural concerns. Plunkett is a rural development organisation that focuses on the application of specific development tools and approaches to engender social change. We recognise that agricultural co-operatives, farmer-controlled businesses or community-owned enterprises are not an end in themselves, but rather an effective means by which rural communities can help to realise their aspirations within the context of broader rural development programmes.

The Foundation is currently:

• The UK’s leading source of expertise on the establishment and development of agricultural co-operatives and other farmer-controlled businesses.

• Developing cutting-edge approaches to tackle the issue of service provision in rural areas by supporting the establishment of community-owned rural services.

• A joint-owner of Rural Partnerships, which initiates and implements broader UK and overseas rural development projects related to Plunkett’s core area of expertise.

To obtain further information on each of these activity areas, follow the highlighted links.