Co-operatives are building a better world in 2025, the UN Year of Co-operatives

2025 is the International Year of Co-operatives.

The theme is ‘Co-operatives build a better world’. Co-operatives worldwide are helping to solve global social, economic and environmental issues, and to build growth and resilience in their communities.

Co-operatives are businesses owned by their employees, customers or community members. Members are brought together for a mutual purpose.

There are successful co-operatives operating in every part of the world. The International Co-operative Alliance unites, represents and serves 1 billion co-operative members and approximately 3 million co-operatives worldwide.

In India, the National Yuva Co-operative Society was set up to help young people. Programmes include supporting young people who have dropped out of secondary school to take up industry-relevant skills training; delivering entrepreneurship training like book-keeping, marketing, and management training through self-help groups and micro-enterprises; and a talent scouting programme to identify and train promising young athletes. The co-operative also delivers counselling to help young people choose the right career path.

In Mexico, the Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción y Prestación de Servicios Cuauhtémoc (SCL) is a cooperative specialising in transporting construction materials across the country in a socially responsible way using state-of-the-art vehicles and trailers.

The UK Government plans to grow the co-operative economy in the UK, with the Labour manifesto including a pledge to double the size of the co-operative sector to benefit communities across the UK.

Here in Wales, the Welsh co-operative movement is growing fast. There are around 14,000 employees contributing to a £1.5 billion annual turnover.

Our advisers at Cwmpas have been supporting co-operatives and social enterprises in Wales since 1982.

There is a huge potential to grow the co-operative sector, and to change the way the economy works to one with wellbeing at its heart, by focusing on social and democratic business models that drive growth and community regeneration.

We have a very real opportunity to create a fairer, greener economy and a more equal society.

Co-operatives throughout Wales offer members an emotional or financial stake in a business, and seek to tackle the social issues that matter most to their communities.

The Timber Co-operative, an employee-owned business in Caernarfon, specialises in producing high-quality, locally-sourced timber to promote affordable, environmentally-friendly building projects for the local community.

Ynni Sir Gar, a social enterprise and co-operative based in Carmarthenshire, is reducing carbon emissions by promoting clean, local renewable energy measures. These include Carmarthenshire’s first community-owned wind turbine, as well as locally owned and managed electric vehicle charging points. Ynni Sir Gar boosts grassroots solutions to the energy crisis, keeping profits and jobs in the community, and reinvesting in the local economy.

Coed Organic, a workers’ co-operative organic farm based in the Vale of Glamorgan, provides a share of their harvest of seasonal vegetables to members as part of their delivery scheme, as well as supplying a vegan café in Cardiff and selling produce at Cardiff’s Riverside Farmers Market.

Rhisom Housing Co-operative is aiming to address the housing needs of the LGBTQ+ community in Cardiff. Housing insecurity is a major issue within this community, leading to deprivation, loneliness and isolation, particularly for younger people.

There are more than 150 Co-op food stores in Welsh communities. Donations support local causes like scout groups, cancer charities and counselling services.

Co-operatives like the Timber Co-operative, Ynni Sir Gar, Coed Organic, Rhisom, and Co-Op stores are busy solving society’s issues, driving commerce across a network of local suppliers, buyers, partners and customers, providing rewarding jobs, secure housing and a steady income, and keeping money and wellbeing circulating in the local economy.

2025 will be an exciting year for the co-operative movement in Wales, and across the world.

Since 1982, as the UK’s largest co-operative development agency, we’ve been the beating heart behind Wales’s social economy, providing expert advice and support to co-operatives, community-owned businesses and social enterprises which are tackling social issues where they matter most and hit hardest – at community level.

Please get in touch if you’d like to find out more.