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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.

  • 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.

  • New models of meeting priority needs

    In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich Co-operative Champions initiative originated from a recommendation in the Co-operative Commission Report: Together for Greenwich. This recommendation recognised the need for the council to embed a co-operative mindset across the entire authority, one in which services are co-designed with residents, communities, and partners rather than simply delivered to them.

To ensure this shift is sustainable, the report recommended setting up a network of officers with specialised knowledge of co-operative business models. These officers would serve as facilitators, assisting services in identifying where co-operative approaches could add value, boost community involvement, and improve outcomes for residents.

Building on this recommendation, a Co‑operative Champions scheme has been introduced to develop internal expertise and foster a culture of shared ownership and collaborative problem-solving. Champions will be encouraged to support teams in identifying opportunities for co‑operative solutions—whether through partnerships, community-led models, or enhanced resident participation. Their role is both practical and cultural: they help translate co‑operative principles into everyday working practices.

The scheme was officially launched in November 2025, introduced through a series of taster sessions open to all officers across the organisation. These interactive sessions included co-operative quizzes and a summary of Royal Greenwich’s extensive co-operative history, which generated strong engagement across a wide range of directorates and demonstrated enthusiasm for exploring new forms of collaboration and organisational change. 

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