2024: A year of co-operating for fairer communities
In 2024, we lived and breathed co-operation in everything we did. It was a great way to prepare for this year’s United Nations International Year of Co-operatives. It will be a year where along with Co-op, we’ll be helping Co-op Member-owners and their communities connect to build a better world, by participating in local events and national campaigns.
Before we step into celebrating the Year of Co-operatives, and as we launch our 2024 Impact Report, I want to look back at all we achieved as Co-op’s charity last year. How we supported our funded partners to build fairer communities that are built on co-operative values. How we stepped up and stood in solidarity with those facing discrimination and division, heightened by the far-right riots. And how we co-operated to make our funding go further, to deliver even more value for Co-op members.
Empowering young people making positive change
We started 2024 with the exciting announcement of our 33 Young Gamechangers. These incredible young people are transforming their communities, funded by our £4.5m Young Gamechangers Fund – a partnership between us, Co-op, and the #iwill Fund.
Jade, 26, is one of our Young Gamechangers who’s using her experience of being in care to lead her organisation, Power 2 Prevail, to support other care-experienced young people to prepare for independent adult life. Jade is one of the stars of our Impact Report – you can learn more about Jade and the impact she’s having by watching this video.
We also supported young people through our Funding Futures Programme. In 2024, we awarded £460k to young social entrepreneurs to help kick-start their ideas to address the effects the cost-of-living crisis on marginalised and minoritised communities. Here you can learn about how Alaa Aleswid is using funding to deliver digital literacy workshops to those who need it most.
Our partnership with Co-op to address climate change
In 2024, we welcomed our third round of funded partners to our Carbon Innovation Fund – a £3.5m partnership with Co-op.
We awarded £1m to seven organisations developing innovative ways to grow the food we need without damaging precious UK peatlands.
We also continued to fund projects addressing climate change in the food and farming sector, like Size of Wales, who are empowering Welsh communities to tackle deforestation. It’s been amazing to see how they’ve been working with schools to make school meals deforestation free. In the process, they’ve created some passionate young climate activists, too! Watch this video to learn more.
Standing in solidarity
I’m proud that in 2024, we were able to act with speed to provide additional support to our partners and their communities that were affected by the terrible racist violence and rioting. Whilst the scenes were shocking and upsetting, the way we came together to support our partners – and how we worked as a team to support one another – was very heartening.
As well as standing in solidarity with our partners, we awarded £221k to our funded partners affected, to support them to react quickly, and do what was needed for the people and communities they serve. We also began the process of framing our longer-term response, which I’m pleased to say we’ll progress and put in place this year.
Co-operating to add value
As Co-op’s charity, we believe in doing right by communities. In 2024, we co-operated to make Co-op Members’ money go further. One of the ways we did this was by leveraging £879k in match funding to help us deliver on our strategy, ‘Building communities of the future together’.
We’re also proud to be Co-op Live’s Official Charity Partner! An annual donation of £1m from the venue will bolster our work to build fairer communities.
What’s more, by being Co-op Live’s charity partner, we’re able to offer our funded partners doing fantastic things in their community a unique ‘thank you’ for all they’re doing. The Dreamseats initiative awards people doing amazing things in their communities the opportunity to go to events at the venue free of charge. Funded partners enjoyed Nicky Minaj, Liam Gallagher, and Charli XCX to name but a few. Gigs at Co-op Live really do give back!
I’m thrilled to think about how we can build on this fantastic work throughout 2025 as we celebrate the year of co-operatives. I’d love for you to join us on the journey.
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To learn more about our work, head to our 2024 Impact Report.