News

Co-operative Help Project

10th December 2009

WE ARE NOT GOING TO WAIT, WE ARE GOING TO HELP OURSELVES!

There are lots of scare stories in the press about elderly people being isolated and having access to poor, impersonal care and support services.

We are a small group of over 50’s people, living in Sheffield and Rotherham, who have decided to take matters into our own hands by forming a co-operative.

Co-ops have been around for well over 150 years now and provide another way of getting goods and services that is consumer controlled. What I mean by that is that anyone can apply for membership and become a shareholder with voting rights. Members will be able to buy care services from the co-op once we are fully up and running. We are calling the co-op, the Co-operative Help Project and we are trying to increase the membership to the point where we can start employing our own staff.

So, if you are elderly or disabled and need help with jobs like gardening, cleaning, shopping, or independent advice the Co-operative help Project might be able to help.

At the moment, we are getting help in developing a business plan so that the project can attract development finance and have a steering group to oversee the work. If you are interested in joining the co-op or finding out more about the idea, please contact our development agent:

Co-operative Help Project
c/o Agency for Community Empowerment Ltd
53 Mowbray Street S3 8EN
Tel. 0114 281 4617
E-mail info@afce.org.uk