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Principles met

  • Co-production

    We will develop systems that enable citizens to be equal partners in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

  • Community leadership and a new role for councillors

    We will explore ways for councils to act as a platform for helping the community to contribute to local outcomes, and to re-think the role of councillors as community connectors, brokers and leaders.

  • Enterprise and social economy

    We will promote community-based approaches to economic development that focus on supporting the creation of jobs, social enterprises and other businesses and providing an environment for co-operative and mutual enterprises to thrive.

  • Innovation

    We will embrace innovation in how we work with local communities to drive positive change.

  • Learning

    We will capture and ‘expand’ the experience and learning from individual projects and approaches in order to encourage broader application of co-operative principles within individual member Councils and across the Network.

  • Maximising social value

    We will support the development of a framework and criteria for social value, giving substance to the concept and supporting Councils with the tools to ensure better local social and economic outcomes.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has a rich history of co-operative development, dating back to the 1700s with the founding of the first co-operative corn mill in Woolwich. Today, it hosts an array of organisations committed to fostering community, environmental, and social impact. This unique position enables Greenwich to lead in growing the local co-operative economy across various sectors.

In early 2024, Royal Borough of Greenwich formed the Co-operative Commission, which is led by The Rt Hon. the Lord Bassam of Brighton. The Commission’s mission is to develop a long-term vision for co-operative collaboration within the borough, focusing on producing recommendations across three sectors: co-operative business support, community energy, and social care. Over a year, the Commission crafted recommendations to empower communities and foster community-led, co-operative solutions to significant challenges.

The Commission hosted over ten evidence-gathering sessions, consulted with experts, and launched a public call for evidence, receiving 63 responses. Insights were gathered from local, regional and national organisations to identify best practices and the unique benefits of co-operatives, as well as barriers and opportunities for growth.

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