Building Communities Fund
A Practical Guide for Communities Considering Purchasing Land and Buildings
The Plunkett Foundation developed this guide on behalf of the Building Community Assets consortium members Co-operative and Community Finance and Social Enterprise East of England. Building Community Assets was a capital grants programme funded by the East of England Development Agency which supported a range of community organisations and social enterprises to own assets to secure their long term future.
Advice Sheets for Community-Owned Rural Shop
The Plunkett Foundation has developed a series of advice sheets covering all aspects of setting up and running a village community owned shop. You can either access them as pdf files from this page or if you prefer you can purchase a full set in hard copy. Please contact us if you would like answers to questions not covered by these advice sheets.
The Real Choice - How local foods can survive the supermarket onslaughtThis report shows how local foods – grown, processed and consumed in the same district – can flourish, provided the growth of supermarket chains is restrained by sound planning policies. These 'local food webs' bring a range of social, environmental and economic benefits and help to conserve some of our most beautiful countryside.
Download PDF version (1 MB)
Enterprising Approaches to Rural Community Transport
A research report and outline development Programme
With funding from the Department for Transport, Plunkett and CTA have conducted the first comprehensive research study of the sector and compiled an evidence-base of the extent to which it already uses social enterprise approaches. The results show that almost all rural CT operators trade to some extent, but there is significant potential for them to increase their long-term sustainability by optimising multiple income streams.
The outcomes of the research, a typology of the sector and case example of enterprising rural CTOs are all part of this publication.
Plunkett Foundation, 2006, p.104
Free + postage - to order please email Kathryn Morrison or Download PDF version (1.4MB)
Supporting Rural Enterprise in England
Proposals and recommendations for policy-makers and practitioners
This report has been prepared on behalf of the Business and Rural Enterprise Sub-Group of the Rural Affairs Forum for England by Richard Moreton, Representing Co-operativesUK
Richard Moreton (Plunkett Foundation), 2002, 60p.
£15 - to order please email Kathryn Morrison
Rural Lifelines – Older People and Rural Social Enterprises
Their role as providers and beneficiaries of service provision in rural England
This publication summarises research carried out by the Plunkett Foundation, PRIME, Age Concern and the Countryside Agency on the relationships between older people and rural social enterprises. The research sought to test the hypothesis that older people are major beneficiaries of social enterprises in rural areas, in view of the services which they receive from them, but are also significant participants in the management and operation of these same enterprises.
Plunkett Foundation, 2004, 72p.
£15 (hardcopy) - to order please email Kathryn Morrison or
download here (600KB)
GENERAL CO-OPERATIVE INTEREST
Reinventing Co-operation the Challenge of the 21st Century
A book designed to dispel the myths and misunderstandings that surround the co-operative business model and to set out, in straightforward language, the essentials of understanding and organising a co-operative. (This volume is the revised and expanded version of the best-selling Reinventing the Co-operative, no longer in print.)
Edgar Parnell (Plunkett Foundation) 1999, 312 pp.
ISBN 0 85042 136 5 £24.95
The Little Nut Tree: The Memoirs of Margaret Digby
An insight into the life and times of one of the co-operative movement’s champions and most tireless workers.
(Plunkett Foundation) 1979, 415 pp.
ISBN 0 85042 026 1 £5.00
Stated prices include 2nd class UK postage
For a full list of publications andan order form, please click here.
Strengthening Rural Communities: Information, Advice & Support Guide & DVD
This informative booklet highlights the community groups that have benefited from this programme and shares the inspirational stories and recommendations for success.
Strengthening Rural Communities across the North West was a grant programme that worked with rural communities to help improve and grow the local services available to their residents. Applications were welcomed from both emerging and established community owned organisations. The programme is currently closed to new applications, but we are still keen to hear about your organisation and how you plan to support your local community with community owned services. If you would like to register your interest in this programme or any other future activities of the Plunkett Foundation, please do so by contacting us through the contact us link.
This site also contains valuable information and links for established and emerging community owned organisations wishing to expand or develop new initiatives. These can be found through the Case Study section, the Information, Advice and Support Guide, and the DVD featuring some of the organisations supported by this programme.
An independant evalution of the programme was undertaken on behalf of the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the project partnership, the Plunkett Foundation and the North West Rural Community Councils.
shops, pubs, cafés
childcare facilities
IT capabilities
financial services
waste management and recycling
care services for elderly or disabled residents
development of village halls into multi-service outlets