CCCV – A community co-operative approach to care

Co-operative Care Colne Valley (CCCV) is a pioneering community care co-operative with the vision: ‘to make Colne Valley a place where high-quality social care and community service are accessible to all and where being a carer is a good career’.

CCCV create personalised, holistic packages (including domiciliary home care) in the Colne Valley. Services are wide-ranging including personal care, medication support, carer support, cleaning, shopping services, social support and gardening. Being community-owned means they’re also mobilising the power of community to get involved, help individuals stay connected and collectively strengthen Colne Valley as a caring community.

The approach of ‘with’ and not ‘for’ is essential in enabling our service user members to maintain their independence. We promote choices and work in a mutual respecting environment, offering a range of holistic services based around key elements of My Life, My Home, My Community and My Care.

Danielle Bolchover – CCCV Registered Manager

Setting up a co-operative as an alternative model of care

The co-operative was set up by a group of local people motivated by different experiences of care and wanting to value people working in care. So, they set about developing an alternative model of care. Co-operative Care Colne Valley, officially called Colne Valley Equitable Care Society Limited was set up as a multi-stakeholder care co-operative in 2019. Both the employees, and those who receive care, have a stake in the business as co-owners. The business is democratically and ethically run, and operates on co-operative principles.

The spirit of co-operation, along with tenacity, has been key to development and success of CCCV. Seed funding, engaging the local community, and expert input have all been key ingredients in achieving their aims and developing a sustainable business model. Kirklees Council supports CCCV’s mission to help local people who need care, to live a better life. They helped CCCV recruit Danielle as the Registered Manager. Community Catalysts provided advice around the regulation of homecare and the Care Quality Commission…and is really excited about the future of CCCV and the values that drive the enterprise!

Funding

Local people gave a big boost to the co-operative by directly investing in the business buying community shares (see ‘what are community shares’). Despite the pandemic, CCCV published their business plan alongside their community share offer (a prospectus for people considering buying shares) in July 2020. 132 people invested £80,000 (the minimum individual investment was £50), which was match funded by the Community Shares Booster Programme. This helped CCCV weather the Covid-storm and provided the financial runway needed to get the business live.

The community share offer, was not only a way to raise money from the local community, it was an important part of embedding the organisation into the local community.

Graham Mitchell, Director

Making a difference

CCCV have produced blogs featuring some of the people they support such as Mr H, who is being helped to live independently after a being in a care home on a temporary basis. The website also includes stories from their volunteers and staff members.

CCCV stands out for me because 3 months into the role they still continue to be true to their principles and that’s something I value.

David, care staff member

Sharing Care Toolkit

CCCV believe ‘small is beautiful’ and are committed to staying local to support people in the Colne Valley community by not growing too big. They’re exploring how to help other local community care co-operatives get started to deliver high quality care in their own local area.

The openness of CCCV to share their journey for others to learn is refreshing and insightful. The Sharing Care Toolkit  – an online resource of a wealth information and resources for others who are considering how they could make the care in their communities better. It’s well worth making a brew and watching the videos to hear the realities of setting up and running a care co-operative, hear innovative ideas and be inspired!

Get in touch

We’d love to hear the stories of more care co-operatives! Contact info@communitycatalysts.co.uk

What are community shares?

 All businesses need money to start and grow. Community shares are not like ordinary shares. They cannot be sold or transferred to someone else, but they can be withdrawn. Whether someone invests £20 or £2000, they each have an equal vote in the running of the business. All shareholders co-own the business and work together to help the business succeed. Only co-operative societies, community benefit societies or charitable community benefit societies can raise money with community shares. Community shares are often described as ‘patient capital’ as interest or the withdrawal of the shares isn’t normally allowed for at least 3 years – giving the business much needed time to get off the ground and start trading. Over £155m has been raised by over 450 co-operatives and community businesses since 2012. Incredibly, despite the pandemic, 92% of all businesses who have used community shares are still trading. For more information, guidance and funding check out the Community Shares Unit.