To download this document as Word, please click here
To download a separate briefing document as a PDF, please click here
5 March 2013
Dear Colleague
Elder Action Programme – the role of Social Co-operatives: Member Controlled Enterprises (MCEs)
We welcome the proposed duty to promote and support the development of co-operative and social enterprises in the draft Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill. In moving this forward, it would be very helpful to get a better understanding of your views
To be clear, we view Social Co-operatives as MCEs - http://www.M-cEnterprise.org - operating according to internationally accepted standards, which provide social and related services, run for, and by, local members.
We have been very busy over the past 18 months, engaged in successfully stimulating interest in social co-operatives in Wales, with support from international experts. This has included meetings with Ministers, Assembly Members, senior officials and 14 public events involving over 750 people across Wales during 2012 UN Year of Co-operatives, with support from a wide range of organisations.
Welsh Governments Co-operative and Mutuals Commission is a good indication of serious intent, underpinned by the proposed new duties to promote co-operatives and user-led services in the draft Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill. http://senedd.assemblywales.org/ieIssueDetails.aspx?IId=5664&Opt=3
In particular, our concern has been with achieving the availability of new, and improved quality services, and how we get ideas into action in creating member controlled enterprises, providing services required by their members, where citizens, as service users, workers, carers, families and friends as volunteers, are at the heart of representing a ‘community of interests’.
In preparing our evidence for the Commission, we are very interested in understanding how you and your organisation might be able to work with this internationally well-established organisational method of providing services.
- Could you suggest any way in which MCEs could usefully work alongside your organisation?
- Could you suggest any particular services in which MCEs could support other areas of service you are involved with?
Currently, we are also working with a local authority in preparing a joint report, which will go to their Executive in April 2013. We would be happy to share this with you, alongside evidence we shall present to the above Commission. We look forward to hearing from you on (01633) 266781, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours sincerely
David Smith
Organiser
Leave your comments