impact report 2019-2020 … · wales co-operative centre ltd, y borth, 13 beddau way, caerphilly,...

IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020

www.wales.coop

Discover how we’re creating a better, fairer, more co-operative Wales

• We are champions for a fairer and greener society, for co-operative working and for the use of technology for social good – we’re leading the public debate, shaping policy and campaigning for positive change

• We help to change the way the economy works, by leading the growth of co-operatives, mutuals, social enterprises and employee-owned businesses as well as by supporting small businesses in the foundational economy to thrive

• We enable people to improve their lives and livelihoods by helping them to improve their digital confidence and to make their communities stronger

• We are a strong and agile organisation that looks after our people, focuses on making a positive impact and ensures our values underpin everything we do

OUR WORK

1 | WALES CO-OPERATIVE CENTRE | IMPACT REPORT 2019-2020

www.wales.coop

OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Client satisfaction score

6.24/7

Number of jobs created by Social Business Wales

172Unemployed people finding jobs in social businesses

72

New social businesses created by the Social Business Wales new start team

26Social care co-operatives registered with help from Care to Co-operate

5

Schemes launched with support from Community Shares Wales

4Amount raised through community share schemes

£1.2m

People supported by Digital Communities Wales to gain digital skills

2500


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Digital Inclusion volunteers recruited and placed by Digital Communities Wales

500

Staff who said they’d recommend the Centre as a great place to work

93%Staff who said they were proud to work here

93%

Male/female ratio

37%-63%

Investors in People

Gold

Green Dragon

Level 2

Cyber Essentials and IASME

Accredited

Turnover generated from grants, contract income and consultancy work

£5.3m


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Throughout 2019-2020 the Wales Co-operative Centre continued to deliver important initiatives to strengthen the Welsh economy and local communities.

Our Social Business Wales Growth programme created 172 jobs. Some of these went to unemployed people, giving them a first foot on the employment ladder. During the year we also launched a service supporting entrepreneurs in Wales to set up new social enterprises.

We launched a number of other new projects during the year. Digital Communities Wales: Digital Confidence, Health and Well-being continues the excellent work to embed digital inclusion within organisations, with an additional focus on health and social care. Communities Creating Homes is a new housing programme to grow the number of co-operative and community led housing schemes and deliver affordable housing for people in need.

OUR HIGHLIGHTS

Derek Walker, our Chief Executive, talks about his highlights of the year.


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We strengthened our commercial services with a new initiative called Social Business Connect which supports organisations to trade with the social business sector. Working with partners we also set up an innovative Wales-wide learning and development programme called the Social Enterprise Academy Wales.

Our policy and research work continued to influence decision-makers. We partnered with the Future Generations Commissioner to launch the ‘Journey to a Prosperous Wales’ resource. We worked with the social enterprise sector to develop a vision and action plan for the sector in Wales. We also supported the Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Co-operatives and Mutuals.

The last few weeks of the year were a period of unprecedented global change. Our focus was on developing new initiatives, support services and delivery mechanisms so we could provide critical assistance to our communities.

My colleagues rose to the challenge with the urgency that was necessary. We began doing things differently as well as doing different thing. And because of our investment in digital technology, we moved to everyone working at home without too much trouble.

The Wales Co-operative Centre is in a strong position and we continue to use that solid foundation to help others.


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Here are some examples of how we've made a difference for our clients over the past year.


OUR HIGHLIGHTS

Thrive Group WalesThe trading arm of Port Talbot and Afan Women’s Aid worked with us to purchase a soft play centre providing secure and sustainable employment.

Delyn GymnasticsWe supported a local gymnastics club to become a healthy small business with six employees, so it could help more adults and children improve their fitness.

AmalOur team enabled a group of Syrian refugees in Carmarthenshire to start a social enterprise and gain paid employment in their new community.

Swansea Bay Health ClusterWe helped the Swansea Bay Health cluster to create a digital inclusion project aimed at tackling obesity and social isolation.

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Digital CompanionsA ground-breaking digital volunteering scheme pioneered by us was one of the projects featured at an Innovation Showcase held at the Senedd.

Meddwl CoedFour friends worked with our team to develop their small holding into a self-sustaining, community-housing initiative providing affordable housing within a supportive community.

Friends of Graigwen WoodsThe residents of Graigwen, Pontypridd, launched a community share offer with advice from us to secure £20,000 needed to prevent beautiful woodland from being developed on.

Me, Myself and IWe showed a centre providing emotional support, reassurance and opportunities for families living with dementia how to become more co-operative, inclusive and sustainable.

Transport for WalesWith our help, Transport for Wales increased the social and environmental impact of its procurement and helped to scale up the social business sector in Wales.

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During the year, the Centre generated a turnover of £5.3m from a combination of grants, contract income and consultancy work.


OUR FINANCIALS

Joanne Jones, our Director of Finance and Resources, summarises our financial position.

£5.3m

A prudent investment strategy is in place to ensure the safeguarding of reserves. Net assets as at 31 March 2020 were £872.8k, comprising a general reserve of £399.7K, share capital of £136 and designated reserves of £473k. Designated reserves provide resources to allow for the continuation and development of the Centre and a critical cost reserve in the event that the Centre has to radically reduce its activities, downsize or close down.

A deficit of £16.9K was generated in the period, largely due to the impact of COVID-19 on our commercial activities. The majority of the Centre’s activities operate on a cost recovery basis.

£16,900

£872,800

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Thanks to all our funders for their support.


OUR FUNDERS

Wales Co-operative Centre Ltd, Y Borth, 13 Beddau Way, Caerphilly, CF83 2AX

Tel: 0300 111 5050 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wales.coop

The Wales Co-operative Development and Training Centre Limited (trading as the Wales Co-operative Centre) is a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, number 24287 R. We welcome correspondence in English or Welsh and aim to provide an equal standard of service in both languages.

impact report 2019-2020 … · wales co-operative centre ltd, y borth, 13 beddau way, caerphilly,...

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