A year that no-one expected
Blog post
As 2020 comes to a close, it’s safe to say it’s been a year that none of us expected.
The co-operative values of solidarity and concern for the community certainly came to the fore this year, with co-ops up and down the UK responding to the crisis by coming together to support others in their community.
When forced to close their doors during lockdown, The Larder in Preston fundraised to provide thousands of hot meals for vulnerable people; Edinburgh Bike Co-op provided free bike repairs for key workers, and retail societies worked round the clock to keep shelves stocked whilst supporting local mutual aid groups
There are many, many examples that I could have chosen.
I hope that in our own way, we at Co-operatives UK have played our part and supported your co-op - explaining how to access government schemes, lobbying to ensure co-ops are eligible for the same support as other types of businesses and providing HR and other guidance in this most challenging of times.
The theme for Co-op Fortnight this year was #KeepCooperating and that is what we will all do. With the promise of mass vaccination on the horizon, we hope that brighter days are coming. And together we’ll help to build something better together.
Thank you for being a member of Co-operatives UK
Don Morris, Chair
