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Newsletter March 2026

This past month has been a powerful reminder of what makes our network unique.

At our Annual General Meeting and Celebration of Cooperative Innovation, members from across the UK came together to reflect on the progress we’ve made, share practical learning, and hear our collective direction for the year ahead.

As a member‑led network, our strength lies in the experience, creativity and commitment of those delivering cooperative change on the ground, showing how deeply our shared values continue to shape real solutions in local government.

We've also launched the 2025/26 Policy Project Funding process, with members hearing directly from those who have successfully developed cooperative policy in partnership across the network. This spirit of shared learning and mutual support is at the heart of CCIN, and I encourage all members to explore how they might get involved this year.

This month’s newsletter also marks an important moment for our network as we welcome back Nicola Huckerby — whose leadership helped shape CCIN into the values‑driven community it is today — as our new Honorary President. Nicola’s continued commitment to cooperation will be an asset to us all.

Alongside this, you’ll find updates on the fast‑approaching deadline for our 2026 Case Study Pack, new opportunities to engage with Policy Labs, insights from CCIN Pathfinders engaged with Families First for Children Programme, and inspiring examples of cooperative leadership from across the country — from Peterborough’s decision to join CCIN to Cardiff’s pioneering Migrant Care Workers Charter.

Thank you to every member who contributed to our AGM and Conference, and to all who continue to champion cooperative approaches in their communities. I look forward to working with you over the coming year as we continue to demonstrate how cooperation delivers practical, people‑centred change.

Best wishes

Jim

Councillor Jim Robbins

Chair of the CCIN & Leader of

Swindon Borough Council

CCIN Annual General Meeting & Conference

We are proud to be a member-led network, and our programme of events reflected this by those at the forefront of delivering impactful, values-driven change in their communities and restoring pride in local areas through cooperative action.

We discussed issues central to the core issues facing local government, including:

The application process for our 2025/6 Policy Project Funding was launched with an advice clinic where members could seek guidance and learn from those who have already gone through the process of developing cooperative policies together with partners across the network. Read on for further information.

Thanks to all those who made our Celebration of Cooperative Innovation and our AGM such a success – and we look forward to delivering cooperative, community-focused policies which we know work for our community.

Watch the CCIN Annual General Meeting 2026

Why did Peterborough join the CCIN...?

Recently, Peterborough City Council have joined CCIN, and we were lucky enough to speak with Cllr Shabina Qayyum to ask why. Here’s what she had to say and why she would encourage others to join the network.

“Our administration is built on strong cooperative principles, and joining the Cooperative Councils’ Innovation Network is a natural step for Peterborough.

We see real potential in collaborative, community‑powered approaches to the challenges our city faces — from democratising and strengthening local services to shaping solutions with residents, not for them.

Cooperative models aren’t just the right thing to do in principle; they help councils like ours manage services more effectively and navigate the financial pressures facing local government across the country.
Being part of a network rooted in shared values, shared learning, and shared ambition will help us deliver better outcomes for the people of Peterborough.”

— Cllr Shabina Qayyum, Leader of Peterborough City Council

Associate Vacancy on the Values & Principles Board

We have a vacancy for an Associate member on our Values & Principles Board.

Self-nominations close at 5pm on Monday 16th March 2026.

The V&P Board has overall responsibility for Values and Principles oversight within the Cooperative Councils’ Innovation Network.

Associate Vacancy - Further Information

Download the Nomination form

CCIN Member Insights - Families First for Children Programme Reforms in Practice - Online Webinar
Wednesday 18th March - 10.00am

Reserve your space here

CCIN is proud to host this insightful webinar featuring Sharon Cooper - Warrington & Sara Taylor - Lewisham as they share their real word experiences as Pathfinders in the Families First for Children (FFC) Programme.

You will hear how two of our CCIN Council Members have approached implementing the reforms, what’s working, what’s been challenging, and what they’ve learned along the way. Their reflections will offer valuable guidance for local authorities on this journey.

We will be joined by Mutual Ventures, the DfE's Delivery Partner for this programme, who will also contribute, drawing on their experience supporting local authorities nationally with co-design and reform implementation.

Find out more & book your space here

Call for evidence on business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals - Chair's Response

Following various discussions with member organisations and individuals, a response from Councillor Jim Robbins, Chair of the Co‑operative Councils’ Innovation Network (CCIN) was given to the UK Government's Call for Evidence. It sought to draw on CCIN’s collective evidence base and reflects the shared practice and learning of the Network.

"The Government’s creation of a Co‑operatives and Mutuals Unit in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the stated ambition to double the size of the co‑operative and mutual economy in the UK is welcomed."

This submission:

Endorses and complements the detailed evidence and recommendations in the Co‑operatives UK draft response to this call for evidence.
Focuses on the role of local government and place‑based support in enabling co‑operatives and mutuals to start, grow and thrive.
Draws on CCIN’s Councils’ Co‑operative Development Toolkit and more than 600 case studies from member councils in all parts of the UK.

Click to read the Chair's response

UK Government Backs Community Energy with £1bn Power Plan

Cooperative Councils have welcomed the announcement by the Government of its new ‘Local Power Plan’ which promises to deliver the largest ever expansion in community-owned, renewable energy that Britain has ever seen.

The new plan, which will be delivered by Great British Energy, was announced by Ed Miliband (Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero) in collaboration with the Co-operative Party, and marks a significant shift away from traditional ‘for profit’ models of energy generation to one in which communities and consumers share in the benefits of energy generation.

Throughout the first half of 2026, Great British Energy will be running an Expression of Interest process as part of their early market engagement – and we encourage Members to get involved alongside their local communities.

Let’s seize this opportunity to be at the core of delivering an energy revolution which empowers our communities and puts cooperative values into practice whilst tackling an issue we know our communities care deeply about and are core to many of your plans to reach net zero.

CCIN Policy Project
- Call for Applications

CCIN’s Policy Labs have tested new approaches to participation, budgeting, climate action and more – but the best ideas often come from councils wrestling with problems right now, with the added benefit of securing financial support to test, learn and review.

Now is your chance to step forward and lead a policy project for CCIN or get involved in supporting a bid to undertake new innovative work to solve the problems facing local government and the communities you represent.

At our recent launch, we heard from those who run the process, and who have gone through the process before about the opportunities, challenges and outcomes of previous policy labs and went over how you can get involved in the process. Click this link for the session recording and slides.

Ready to submit an expression of interest or want to gauge support for your idea?

Click the Blue Button

Policy Project Application Process

Cardiff Leads the Way with New Charter to Protect Migrant Care Workers

Cardiff Council has taken a landmark step in strengthening fair work, ethical commissioning, and community cohesion by becoming the first local authority in Wales to adopt a Migrant Care Workers Charter. Developed in partnership with UNISON Cymru and shaped directly by the experiences of migrant care workers, the Charter sets a new benchmark for dignity, safety, and fairness across the adult social care sector.

The Charter responds to growing national concerns about exploitation and the vulnerability of workers whose visa status is tied to their employment. While many providers already demonstrate strong practice, Cardiff’s proactive stance aims to eliminate poor practice entirely and embed cooperative values—fairness, transparency, and partnership—into every commissioned service.

The commitments boil down to a clear, worker‑centred framework that protects migrant care workers’ rights and raises employment standards across Cardiff’s commissioned care sector.

Key commitments include:

Ethical recruitment — preventing coercion, modern slavery, and hidden fees.
Protection from exploitation — swift action where threats of deportation or sponsorship withdrawal occur.
Fair pay and transparency — guaranteeing at least the Real Living Wage and clear, itemised payslips.
Secure and flexible hours — discouraging restrictive practices linked to visa conditions.
Safe, inclusive workplaces — zero tolerance for bullying and discrimination, with confidential reporting routes.
Regulatory compliance — strong oversight to ensure providers meet Welsh and UK employment law.

These commitments will be supported by an operational tool to help providers translate principles into day‑to‑day practice and demonstrate how Cooperative Councils can lead nationally on ethical standards by putting our values and principles into practice.

Click for further information

CCIN London Networking - Your thoughts & support .....

London boroughs face a distinct set of pressures. From navigating the uncertainty of post-UKSPF funding to adapting to the Integrated Settlement—and ensuring London’s voice is heard on agendas.

Following recent conversations and building on the strong interest shown during our Conference 2026, Michelle Rankin at the Royal Borough of Greenwich is happy to work with others to explore a dedicated space linking up a CCIN London Network.

The ambition is to create a practical, structured space to collaborate. Whether you are interested in sharing a recent success from your borough, exploring the Co-operative Champions role, or simply connecting with peers facing similar challenges, we want to hear from you.

Next Steps: Please reach out to Michelle Rankin:
michelle.rankin@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

to register your interest and join the conversation.

Community Wealth Building Bill passed in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament voted to pass this landmark Bill into law, becoming the first country in the world to pass a bill of its kind.

This legislation mandates all Scottish local authorities to develop statutory CWB action plans. It is a win for the sector, legally requiring councils to use their procurement power to anchor public spend within local community enterprises and co-operatives.

Community wealth building (CWB) aims to increase the community impact of money spent by public services by spending it via local community enterprises. As part of the legislation, each local authority must prepare a CWB plan that will aim to increase economic value in the local economy and raise the incomes of local people.

CO-OPERATIVES UK seeks new Board Members

Cooperatives UK Call for Evidence on business support for cooperatives

Could you shape the future of Cooperation in the UK?

Co-operatives UK represents, supports and empowers cooperatives to succeed and supports the development of new cooperative enterprises, lobbies for cooperative policies, and supports the development of cooperative approaches to tackling issues facing the communities in which their members work.

They are currently seeking nominations from people who wish to stand for election to their board. Interested? - Click this link.

Want to explore becoming a member of Co-operatives UK?
Find out more at https://www.uk.coop/membership

Cooperatives UK is an Affiliate Member of the Network

Welcoming our new CCIN President

Network members will know that earlier this year our long-standing CEO, Nicola Huckerby began enjoying her retirement, which we now know involves a lot of running and spending quality time with her three dogs (aka. The Huckerby Hounds).

Nicola was instrumental in helping grow and shape CCIN and played a great role in helping to shape the network into the innovative, values-driven network it is today.

That’s why we are delighted to welcome Nicola back into the CCIN family as our new Honorary President in recognition of her years of dedicated service and passion for promoting cooperation at all levels of business, society and government.

Welcome back Nicola! We hope that you’ll enjoy your time as President and know you will continue to be a fantastic ambassador for CCIN and the Cooperative Movement.

The deadline for inclusion is noon Friday, 13 March 2026.
Please contact hello@councils.coop if you might struggle to hit this deadline.

Submitting to this pack is a core element of CCIN Membership, both allowing your council to share best practice with others and to learn from the innovative work of CCIN Members across the country, tackling the shared issues facing our communities.

We have produced a template to help you, and all instructions are on our website (Click this link)

For the printed pack:

Full Member Councils receive a double-page spread. You can promote one case study (approximately 850 words plus an image) or two shorter case studies (approximately 400 words each plus an image).
Associate and Affiliate Members receive a single page to promote one case study. Affiliate Members are asked to use the opportunity to promote an example of where they’ve worked with a Cooperative Council (approximately 400 words each plus an image).