News update from Anne maher, md
decEMBER 2024
As we screech to a halt on a year that seems to have flown by newsletter time gives me time to pause and reflect on achievements and where we are!
Perhaps it’s because we are naturally coming to the end of our strategic plan for 2022- 2024 that there is a sense of completion and another phase beginning. So much has been done! In summary though, so that you don’t loose the will to read on, we have built the organisational capacity of the business to give us time and space to work through how we move forward to the next stage… we have affirmed our structure and we have also put our next strategic plan together. Check it out on the website! Whew!
Our strategies forward involve building our membership, networking and education. People and community focussed, we now want to harness the potential of what has been achieved as a social enterprise. Our goals are redefined in priority. Responsible food systems and nourishing food access are key. So much has changed during the history of The Urban Co-op where priorities have shifted in society to what we believe are more fundamental needs. Our unique portal into community helps us to understand the future we want to shape positively. Thank you for being on board with us!
Some good news too to share! We have been successful in a government grant award. Getting our taxes working for us again…! Redoing the kitchen, new carpet for the Plunkett room, an access hallway for the toilets and insulation are included as well as lighting. This should be fun but will give a great lift to us all! January will start with a bang!
On behalf of the Board and Staff I would like to wish you a wonderful Christmas & New Year. See you on the other side!
Perhaps it’s because we are naturally coming to the end of our strategic plan for 2022- 2024 that there is a sense of completion and another phase beginning. So much has been done! In summary though, so that you don’t loose the will to read on, we have built the organisational capacity of the business to give us time and space to work through how we move forward to the next stage… we have affirmed our structure and we have also put our next strategic plan together. Check it out on the website! Whew!
Our strategies forward involve building our membership, networking and education. People and community focussed, we now want to harness the potential of what has been achieved as a social enterprise. Our goals are redefined in priority. Responsible food systems and nourishing food access are key. So much has changed during the history of The Urban Co-op where priorities have shifted in society to what we believe are more fundamental needs. Our unique portal into community helps us to understand the future we want to shape positively. Thank you for being on board with us!
Some good news too to share! We have been successful in a government grant award. Getting our taxes working for us again…! Redoing the kitchen, new carpet for the Plunkett room, an access hallway for the toilets and insulation are included as well as lighting. This should be fun but will give a great lift to us all! January will start with a bang!
On behalf of the Board and Staff I would like to wish you a wonderful Christmas & New Year. See you on the other side!
NOVEMBER 2024
Halloween down and the drop in blood sugar will be only temporary as the Christmas onslaught is in full swing. Do you get overwhelmed by it all? You are not alone! The sparkle of Christmas lights are earlier each year. It is a distraction though from the darker evenings and the lack of light. November can be a dark time both physically and mentally and for many the need to find something to help is real. Oct to Dec are a challenge to good intentions regarding health. It is a time to seek comfort though and perhaps a warming winter stew will be a better reach than the boxes of quality street…
What’s happening?! We hope you enjoyed Dr Unwins visit to us last month. What a wonderful event! We are still buzzing from it. Lots of positivity and hope from the event. It has been videoed and will be available to watch online in due course. It will have a small fee to help us to plan to do more of these type of events in the future so suggestions are welcome also!
The Bord Bia National Organic Awards were a highlight recently as we won the Business in the Community award! We were delighted to be shortlisted for this category as it really appeals to the values of what we are about, so to win was the icing on the cake!
We are attending the Biofarm conference again this year and note that Limerick is becoming a fulcrum for activity in term of Organic, Soil Health and dare we say it Human Health? With all the interest in environmental concerns the reality is if we do not look after our own environment.. our gut environment, with real nutrient dense food, we will have little chance or opportunity to protect the environment around us.
Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can…
What’s happening?! We hope you enjoyed Dr Unwins visit to us last month. What a wonderful event! We are still buzzing from it. Lots of positivity and hope from the event. It has been videoed and will be available to watch online in due course. It will have a small fee to help us to plan to do more of these type of events in the future so suggestions are welcome also!
The Bord Bia National Organic Awards were a highlight recently as we won the Business in the Community award! We were delighted to be shortlisted for this category as it really appeals to the values of what we are about, so to win was the icing on the cake!
We are attending the Biofarm conference again this year and note that Limerick is becoming a fulcrum for activity in term of Organic, Soil Health and dare we say it Human Health? With all the interest in environmental concerns the reality is if we do not look after our own environment.. our gut environment, with real nutrient dense food, we will have little chance or opportunity to protect the environment around us.
Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can…
OCTOBER 2024
After a few heady warm days in September at the Ploughing Championships in Laois recently we are facing into the shorter days and cooler times. Last minute Vitamin D to shore up the energy reserves for the next few months. We know we need it. This month has a few highlights to note.
It has taken a while to organize this event but we are really excited to host Dr. David Unwin on the 19th October in the Pavilion at UL this month. Tickets are on sale at the Co-op but are also online here A day with the Doc may just change your life! Diabetes, heart disease and cancer are all so familiar to our health system now as chronic illness. What if food could play a role in achieving remission and reversal of symptoms. He will inspire you with his stories!
As I type we are planning to also have a live link for those who cannot attend in person… mastering technology here.
Masterchef are working with us to bring a locally sourced organic meal as well for this event. These events are an opportunity for us to bring people together with the healing power of food.
We are working meanwhile on our next strategic plan so our survey is still open for a few weeks if you want to add your feedback! Thank you to all who have taken the time to complete the short survey to date.
Till next time!
It has taken a while to organize this event but we are really excited to host Dr. David Unwin on the 19th October in the Pavilion at UL this month. Tickets are on sale at the Co-op but are also online here A day with the Doc may just change your life! Diabetes, heart disease and cancer are all so familiar to our health system now as chronic illness. What if food could play a role in achieving remission and reversal of symptoms. He will inspire you with his stories!
As I type we are planning to also have a live link for those who cannot attend in person… mastering technology here.
Masterchef are working with us to bring a locally sourced organic meal as well for this event. These events are an opportunity for us to bring people together with the healing power of food.
We are working meanwhile on our next strategic plan so our survey is still open for a few weeks if you want to add your feedback! Thank you to all who have taken the time to complete the short survey to date.
Till next time!
september 2024
Back to School
The return to routine is welcome for most and off we go again in the next academic year. Welcome back to those who have been chasing the rare Summer sunshine and I hope you have had a chance to take a break. The coming months will be busy. There seems to be a lot on!! What’s new?!
Till next month!
The return to routine is welcome for most and off we go again in the next academic year. Welcome back to those who have been chasing the rare Summer sunshine and I hope you have had a chance to take a break. The coming months will be busy. There seems to be a lot on!! What’s new?!
- We are launching a new initiative for members as we move forward the business. This is based on our vision of building the power of community and the philanthropy of the crowds. Our Cultivate membership initiative is being phased out and we are inviting members to pay forward on their customer accounts ( much like a voucher/Christmas club idea) and keep accounts in a credit state. This will help grow the business from the ground up as we want it to be. Do ask us about it when you are in!
- Strategic Plan: We are looking towards our next strategic plan and are drafting the bones of it already. As a summary of 22 to 24 we wanted to focus on building the capacity of the organisation, improve our metrics collection and also scale the business. The future plans are based on our stage of development. How can we improve our networks, influence policy and build our membership brand? Your feedback will be important here and we invite you to fill out a really quick survey
- Events: We are heading to the ploughing championships this month so if you are there call into the organic tent to see us there.. must get myself some wellies!!
Just a heads up that we are delighted to bring you Dr. David Unwin in October. His work on diabetes remission is a story to hear and inspire. Watch out for the tickets which will go for sale in coming weeks..
Till next month!
august 2024
Perhaps when you read this you are enjoying some holidays. Timely rest before the momentum cranks up on the road to Christmas… eek!
Where do we start with what has been happening..? As always there are lots of things happening here behind the scenes that drive our enthusiasm for the potential of The Urban Co-op. From volunteers who choose to travel from the UK to experience this place as part of work experience or eager students willing to learn how we operate as a social enterprise we are keenly aware of our influence at this stage of our development.
We are 11 years going now. Imagine! If it was a wedding anniversary we would be celebrating steel. Valued for its durability and strength. In numerology terms there is great significance to 11 because it represents the start of a new phase or the imminence of a new event. (In bingo we can leave it at legs 11!).
We are working towards our new initiative of a pay forward model as we build the concept of Philanthropy of the Crowds. As a social enterprise having the balance of income generation and public grant/philanthropic support is the feature. Last year we achieved a 96% target of income generation. Every customer contributes to the social impact every week. A collective of co-operation that we put our trust in. This is sustainability and community in action.
With our new pay forward model we are aiming to crank up the momentum of our potential. Currently we are trialling this with staff and board and therapists. Effectively it works like a Christmas club. Put some funds forward into your customer account and keep in credit to drive forward the potential of The Urban Co-op. A major benefit can be less bank card charges with less card tapping. We note that last year card charges were €8k. We would rather that money go to the community. So instead of tapping for a cup of coffee if a pay forward of €20 once could save numerous bank card charges. Feel free to ask about the initiative when you are in.
The Cultivate Membership initiative we have been offering over the last few years is going to be wound down over the next few weeks. It has been a great learning experience for us and wonderful to have the trust of the members who contributed to it. We will be directly in contact with the members involved in the next few weeks on the details. If any member has a question on it please get in touch to [email protected]
Member meetings will be rolled out from September as we grow the potential of this collective. We are looking at a monthly event as an opportunity to meet and chat. Watch out for this next month. Til then!
Where do we start with what has been happening..? As always there are lots of things happening here behind the scenes that drive our enthusiasm for the potential of The Urban Co-op. From volunteers who choose to travel from the UK to experience this place as part of work experience or eager students willing to learn how we operate as a social enterprise we are keenly aware of our influence at this stage of our development.
We are 11 years going now. Imagine! If it was a wedding anniversary we would be celebrating steel. Valued for its durability and strength. In numerology terms there is great significance to 11 because it represents the start of a new phase or the imminence of a new event. (In bingo we can leave it at legs 11!).
We are working towards our new initiative of a pay forward model as we build the concept of Philanthropy of the Crowds. As a social enterprise having the balance of income generation and public grant/philanthropic support is the feature. Last year we achieved a 96% target of income generation. Every customer contributes to the social impact every week. A collective of co-operation that we put our trust in. This is sustainability and community in action.
With our new pay forward model we are aiming to crank up the momentum of our potential. Currently we are trialling this with staff and board and therapists. Effectively it works like a Christmas club. Put some funds forward into your customer account and keep in credit to drive forward the potential of The Urban Co-op. A major benefit can be less bank card charges with less card tapping. We note that last year card charges were €8k. We would rather that money go to the community. So instead of tapping for a cup of coffee if a pay forward of €20 once could save numerous bank card charges. Feel free to ask about the initiative when you are in.
The Cultivate Membership initiative we have been offering over the last few years is going to be wound down over the next few weeks. It has been a great learning experience for us and wonderful to have the trust of the members who contributed to it. We will be directly in contact with the members involved in the next few weeks on the details. If any member has a question on it please get in touch to [email protected]
Member meetings will be rolled out from September as we grow the potential of this collective. We are looking at a monthly event as an opportunity to meet and chat. Watch out for this next month. Til then!
july 2024
The Power of Community
After a very pleasant trip to Áris an Uachtaráin at the end of June for the garden part celebrating Community we are reflecting on our belief in the Power of Community.
Recognising that so much work has been done by communities coming together and how this latent energy is a resource to be used to support the life we want to live it is encouraging to see how the collective energy is yielding positive outcomes.
It was exciting to be part of the recent digital futures lab24 initiative in UL imagining a food future in 2044 and how technology can support us in relevant local contexts. We hope to bring this poster display to The Urban Co-op soon so watch out for that.
A welcome must be extended to our new Mayor John Moran whose manifesto also includes the vision of The Urban Co-op under the Agri-Food section.
Our Philantrophy of the Crowds model is gathering pace here too as we explore our own capacity to drive forward the capacity of this model. Staff and Board are trialling a pay forward model here and gathering data for impact measurement. We will be rolling this out to all the members soon after so watch out for this too! We love to just answer that little question “what if?” It’s amazing what this question actually kickstarts when you can harness the power of community… till next month!
After a very pleasant trip to Áris an Uachtaráin at the end of June for the garden part celebrating Community we are reflecting on our belief in the Power of Community.
Recognising that so much work has been done by communities coming together and how this latent energy is a resource to be used to support the life we want to live it is encouraging to see how the collective energy is yielding positive outcomes.
It was exciting to be part of the recent digital futures lab24 initiative in UL imagining a food future in 2044 and how technology can support us in relevant local contexts. We hope to bring this poster display to The Urban Co-op soon so watch out for that.
A welcome must be extended to our new Mayor John Moran whose manifesto also includes the vision of The Urban Co-op under the Agri-Food section.
Our Philantrophy of the Crowds model is gathering pace here too as we explore our own capacity to drive forward the capacity of this model. Staff and Board are trialling a pay forward model here and gathering data for impact measurement. We will be rolling this out to all the members soon after so watch out for this too! We love to just answer that little question “what if?” It’s amazing what this question actually kickstarts when you can harness the power of community… till next month!
june 2024
Good grief it's June already! Half a year… How many shopping days to Christmas??
It’s getting warm though and the layers are being taken off slowly…
So what’s happening? We bid Aimee farewell as she has moved on to work in Kinsale. Danilly has stepped down as Director and Chair to take part in the New Frontiers program with an exciting new product. The Urban Co-op is shaping people’s lives and leading people in interesting directions. To quantify the impact of this project on the direction of people's journeys would be a very interesting exercise. Any researchers with some spare time willing to delve into this I wonder?
We welcome our new Chairperson David Humphries and Annmarie Ryan onto the Board as long-term members and enthusiastic believers in the potential and impact of The Urban Co-op.
Our Philanthropy of the Crowds dream is alive and well and soon we will be launching a new concept for the members as we harness this growing energy. Taking responsibility for our well-being does start from the ground up.
The recent UL Futures Lab event co-hosted by The Urban Co-op and the Milk Market was a very positive exploration of our food futures. Reimagining how our food future can be can and will be. Recognising we must protect our nourishing local food culture is part of this journey to ensure we do not become hostage to the corporate dictates of what constitutes “food”.
Elections loom close and food security is first on our agenda. There are many priorities of course but getting this right will be a game-changer for all.
It’s getting warm though and the layers are being taken off slowly…
So what’s happening? We bid Aimee farewell as she has moved on to work in Kinsale. Danilly has stepped down as Director and Chair to take part in the New Frontiers program with an exciting new product. The Urban Co-op is shaping people’s lives and leading people in interesting directions. To quantify the impact of this project on the direction of people's journeys would be a very interesting exercise. Any researchers with some spare time willing to delve into this I wonder?
We welcome our new Chairperson David Humphries and Annmarie Ryan onto the Board as long-term members and enthusiastic believers in the potential and impact of The Urban Co-op.
Our Philanthropy of the Crowds dream is alive and well and soon we will be launching a new concept for the members as we harness this growing energy. Taking responsibility for our well-being does start from the ground up.
The recent UL Futures Lab event co-hosted by The Urban Co-op and the Milk Market was a very positive exploration of our food futures. Reimagining how our food future can be can and will be. Recognising we must protect our nourishing local food culture is part of this journey to ensure we do not become hostage to the corporate dictates of what constitutes “food”.
Elections loom close and food security is first on our agenda. There are many priorities of course but getting this right will be a game-changer for all.
MAy 2024
We have had a few busy weeks here. The ebbs and flows of the year as normal. Themes that emerge though are clarity and ideas. Just like after the winter when the spring sunshine starts to peep out and the plants emerge.
We have delved deeply into the co-operative concept and want to let you know where we are. As we have previously outlined the changeover from a company status to the legal entity of a co-operative is not straightforward as the current updated co-operative bill has not yet been enacted. Time is the factor here. If we changed now we would be subject to the current legislation. When the Bill is enacted (and we do not know how long this will take) we would then need to “upgrade” to the current legislation. I hope I haven’t lost you yet as this needs to be in plain English for me too. Effectively the new legislation brings co-operatives legally closer to companies. Which we currently are…there is a sense of going in circles here and we have had a rethink! Limerick Community Grocery as a legal company may not need to change at all. Instead what we are looking at is building the arm of The Urban Co-op as a strong member led co-operative. I liken it to building an extension rather than rebuilding the house. We are in a unique position where we can adapt. We have more to learn on this but our thinking is to wait until the Bill is through. We will be holding members meetings to start the ball rolling this way. As workers and consumers we all have a stake in how this grows. There has been much work done already. The path looks much clearer. Building on the capacity of the members to grow our own food systems… which leads me neatly to the next event we are delighted to be involved with…
We have delved deeply into the co-operative concept and want to let you know where we are. As we have previously outlined the changeover from a company status to the legal entity of a co-operative is not straightforward as the current updated co-operative bill has not yet been enacted. Time is the factor here. If we changed now we would be subject to the current legislation. When the Bill is enacted (and we do not know how long this will take) we would then need to “upgrade” to the current legislation. I hope I haven’t lost you yet as this needs to be in plain English for me too. Effectively the new legislation brings co-operatives legally closer to companies. Which we currently are…there is a sense of going in circles here and we have had a rethink! Limerick Community Grocery as a legal company may not need to change at all. Instead what we are looking at is building the arm of The Urban Co-op as a strong member led co-operative. I liken it to building an extension rather than rebuilding the house. We are in a unique position where we can adapt. We have more to learn on this but our thinking is to wait until the Bill is through. We will be holding members meetings to start the ball rolling this way. As workers and consumers we all have a stake in how this grows. There has been much work done already. The path looks much clearer. Building on the capacity of the members to grow our own food systems… which leads me neatly to the next event we are delighted to be involved with…
|
(Re) Imagining a local food economy for Limerick As part of the University of Limerick Digital Futures Lab, food and craft businesses are invited to participate in an interactive workshop to imagine a future ‘real food economy’ for the Limerick region. Saturday May 18th 2-4pm, Limerick Milk Market Co-facilitated by Master students at Kemmy Business School and led by Dr Annmarie Ryan, the workshop will give space to all to reflect on current realities, imagine possible futures and consider the roadblocks of change. The students will continue their work over 3.5 weeks of the lab – with moments along the journey when they will share their work in progress. Final exhibit of the work will take place in June. |
April 2024
Easter is over already and I hope the Summer will stretch out before us with glorious sunshine for most of it. Fingers crossed! There are a few events to keep us busy this month.
As I write we are looking at 18th April for our AGM. Watch out for this and we will post out when finalized. There is some progress with the co-operative change so we hope to bring you that on the night.
An interesting event is on this month as part of the Life Long Learning Festival on Tuesday 16th at 2pm regarding local currencies. Highly recommended if you are curious about our money systems. Co-operatives can play a vital role in local currencies hence our interest!
Our instore mural is complete now and adds a lot of colour to the wall near the till. We were delighted to host two students Clodagh and Lauryn from Limerick College of Art and Design who brought the concept of a pastoral farming image to life representing where we get our food originally from. We were delighted to collaborate with Tait House also and the Relove paint initiative to use recycled paint in the project. It was delightful to welcome our little neighbours from the local creche to give it all a quality approval seal…
An environment to inspire action.. it’s the small things..
As I write we are looking at 18th April for our AGM. Watch out for this and we will post out when finalized. There is some progress with the co-operative change so we hope to bring you that on the night.
An interesting event is on this month as part of the Life Long Learning Festival on Tuesday 16th at 2pm regarding local currencies. Highly recommended if you are curious about our money systems. Co-operatives can play a vital role in local currencies hence our interest!
Our instore mural is complete now and adds a lot of colour to the wall near the till. We were delighted to host two students Clodagh and Lauryn from Limerick College of Art and Design who brought the concept of a pastoral farming image to life representing where we get our food originally from. We were delighted to collaborate with Tait House also and the Relove paint initiative to use recycled paint in the project. It was delightful to welcome our little neighbours from the local creche to give it all a quality approval seal…
An environment to inspire action.. it’s the small things..
march 2024
Are we over the worst of it? The darkness I mean? How good is it to have more light! Time to come out of the hibernation mode and face the sunshine.. it makes us grow!
We are feeling the sun’s rays and starting to grow ourselves! Part of our strategy to scale has been to develop an online capacity. Let me explain what has been happening! We have explored this option for quite a while. In the rush towards online trading (accelerated by covid) it was understandable that this mode was expected for many outlets. We were the proverbial tortoise as the hare took off. We have though in the interim learned a lot about our customers and members. Our decision to focus on building direct contact with customers and members is a core of our values – community. Connection is vital to our well-being and as fancy as the digital connection is there is no substitute for human contact. For all of us. Take that AI…
We have come to a model that sits well with us. This month we launch the start of a delivery to collection hubs in Ennis, Tipperary and Charleville as well as an order service for in-store collection. This is the start of what we envisage will be a growing network of scale. Keep an eye on the social media and membership emails for more details. We officially launch on 7th March here on site! As usual watch this space!
We are feeling the sun’s rays and starting to grow ourselves! Part of our strategy to scale has been to develop an online capacity. Let me explain what has been happening! We have explored this option for quite a while. In the rush towards online trading (accelerated by covid) it was understandable that this mode was expected for many outlets. We were the proverbial tortoise as the hare took off. We have though in the interim learned a lot about our customers and members. Our decision to focus on building direct contact with customers and members is a core of our values – community. Connection is vital to our well-being and as fancy as the digital connection is there is no substitute for human contact. For all of us. Take that AI…
We have come to a model that sits well with us. This month we launch the start of a delivery to collection hubs in Ennis, Tipperary and Charleville as well as an order service for in-store collection. This is the start of what we envisage will be a growing network of scale. Keep an eye on the social media and membership emails for more details. We officially launch on 7th March here on site! As usual watch this space!
FEBRUARY 2024
I see the light! Like the green shoots peeping out, we are turning our eyes towards the sun these days. After the dark days, it is always welcome to greet the springtime with the promise of new beginnings. We have been busy analysing our data for 2023 and starting the new year with where we are, to see where we are going. A busy year ahead fulfilling the strategic plan outlined in 2022. By the end of the year, we will be planning for the next one!
We appear to be on track and with the support of the members our footfall is increasing, our capacity is growing and our reach is spreading!! Hard work pays off and we are encouraged by the impacts we are making. Formulating the model we are working on so that it can be replicated by other communities is a good way to focus our thinking now on everything we do.
We will let you know the summaries of our impacts before the annual report is published so watch out for that. While I love the data, it’s the people behind the figures that add richness to this enterprise and the impact possible. Every euro spent here, every minute spent here builds the strength of the enterprise to be sustainable. The roots are going deeper each year. Stability builds our trust and hope in the future. Know that everyone can make a difference!
We appear to be on track and with the support of the members our footfall is increasing, our capacity is growing and our reach is spreading!! Hard work pays off and we are encouraged by the impacts we are making. Formulating the model we are working on so that it can be replicated by other communities is a good way to focus our thinking now on everything we do.
We will let you know the summaries of our impacts before the annual report is published so watch out for that. While I love the data, it’s the people behind the figures that add richness to this enterprise and the impact possible. Every euro spent here, every minute spent here builds the strength of the enterprise to be sustainable. The roots are going deeper each year. Stability builds our trust and hope in the future. Know that everyone can make a difference!
January 2024
2024! Something nice about even numbers. The year stretches out in front of us and as usual, there is much to do. Expect the launch of our online model which we are delighted to bring you. It has been a slow burner and we have been eager to find ways to meet the needs of our community directly. Not just an impersonal online presence…
A draft constitution will be brought to you soon also! We want your feedback and insights here. Changing to a full co-operative feels right for the enterprise at this stage and the concept of community ownership for what this enterprise represents is key to its progress. It’s a statement to other communities about what is possible from the ground up when a community organizes itself to take action. The how is what we will be continuing to work on this year.
A draft constitution will be brought to you soon also! We want your feedback and insights here. Changing to a full co-operative feels right for the enterprise at this stage and the concept of community ownership for what this enterprise represents is key to its progress. It’s a statement to other communities about what is possible from the ground up when a community organizes itself to take action. The how is what we will be continuing to work on this year.
december 2023
The dark evenings are in with gusto and keeping busy keeps us distracted from the gloom.
The year will be over before we know it though, we are looking forward to Christmas and beyond. It has been an exciting and busy year for The Urban Co-op. 10 years of mileage has meant there is a wealth of experience built up and increasingly we are talking to groups around the country who want to set up similar models. An appetite for an alternative is palpable. Digging deep into the nuances of what this social enterprise is about we remind ourselves of how important the human connection is in our daily lives. Social capital to maintain the momentum. Maintaining our human intelligence in the era of artificial intelligence is something we feel passionate about. Grocery shopping is a regular activity that is associated with sustaining ourselves. We have stretched this idea to the concept of sustaining our health and well-being. Sustainability is a common buzzword now and it is one of our core values. We do ask ourselves sustainable for whom? We know we start with our responsibility. We must sustain ourselves. How we do this is what we work at every day. Meanwhile, in the background, we are delving deeply into the constitution for the future. An interesting process with our experience to draw on. With Aimee and Stewart on board, we are getting more precious time to work on this detail. We know it will be worth it!
The year will be over before we know it though, we are looking forward to Christmas and beyond. It has been an exciting and busy year for The Urban Co-op. 10 years of mileage has meant there is a wealth of experience built up and increasingly we are talking to groups around the country who want to set up similar models. An appetite for an alternative is palpable. Digging deep into the nuances of what this social enterprise is about we remind ourselves of how important the human connection is in our daily lives. Social capital to maintain the momentum. Maintaining our human intelligence in the era of artificial intelligence is something we feel passionate about. Grocery shopping is a regular activity that is associated with sustaining ourselves. We have stretched this idea to the concept of sustaining our health and well-being. Sustainability is a common buzzword now and it is one of our core values. We do ask ourselves sustainable for whom? We know we start with our responsibility. We must sustain ourselves. How we do this is what we work at every day. Meanwhile, in the background, we are delving deeply into the constitution for the future. An interesting process with our experience to draw on. With Aimee and Stewart on board, we are getting more precious time to work on this detail. We know it will be worth it!
november 2023
We are getting an increasing number of calls from other parts of the country where groups are planning to start models like The Urban Co-op. Isn’t this fantastic! Developing organically over the years has sent deeper roots down and the resilience is growing. We are working on the constitution for the co-operative and soon should be sending out a draft version to members.
One of the aims of the co-operative is to build on the membership. We have currently nearly 3,000 members and we are exploring many ways that membership benefits can be availed of in the future. We recognise how important it is to demonstrate membership commitment as a co-operative and how this inspires other communities to be more involved in their own fledgling enterprises.
During November we will be doing some TUC talks again and some interesting events! I will be giving a talk on 20th November at 7pm on health trends. Check out Colman Power who will be giving a three-hour seminar at the end of the month. We also will have an interesting event called Currency Conversations. Many of the members are interested in how money and currencies can be used in positive ways. We highly recommend this free talk on 30th November. Keep an eye out for these events and more advertised, on our website and social media.
One of the aims of the co-operative is to build on the membership. We have currently nearly 3,000 members and we are exploring many ways that membership benefits can be availed of in the future. We recognise how important it is to demonstrate membership commitment as a co-operative and how this inspires other communities to be more involved in their own fledgling enterprises.
During November we will be doing some TUC talks again and some interesting events! I will be giving a talk on 20th November at 7pm on health trends. Check out Colman Power who will be giving a three-hour seminar at the end of the month. We also will have an interesting event called Currency Conversations. Many of the members are interested in how money and currencies can be used in positive ways. We highly recommend this free talk on 30th November. Keep an eye out for these events and more advertised, on our website and social media.
october 2023
Last quarter of the year! Phew that has been quick! An interesting few months ahead in more ways than one! If you are getting the feeling that we are on the verge of some significant change then join the club…
So what is happening?
We welcome new staff members to join our team this month! The original vision of The Urban Co-op was to provide employment. Currently with new staff we will have 12 actively employed with 9 FTEs
Looking back over the years from 2016 we have provided employment for 25 people! Can you believe it?!
The extra staff are finally allowing us to concentrate on the development of the co-operative and the nitty gritty of constitutions etc. It is actually quite interesting because we now have much experience under our belts. We feel like those mature students with important assignments to complete and submit.
There is no doubt we see a particular interest in our model at this time. Transforming the transactional and extractive model of commerce to a collaborative system is something that appeals to more and more as we reconnect with our communities. Inspiring our community to be part of the change we want to see in the world is our purpose going forward. It is addictively fulfilling to be part of this exciting project! Are you on board yet?
So what is happening?
We welcome new staff members to join our team this month! The original vision of The Urban Co-op was to provide employment. Currently with new staff we will have 12 actively employed with 9 FTEs
Looking back over the years from 2016 we have provided employment for 25 people! Can you believe it?!
The extra staff are finally allowing us to concentrate on the development of the co-operative and the nitty gritty of constitutions etc. It is actually quite interesting because we now have much experience under our belts. We feel like those mature students with important assignments to complete and submit.
There is no doubt we see a particular interest in our model at this time. Transforming the transactional and extractive model of commerce to a collaborative system is something that appeals to more and more as we reconnect with our communities. Inspiring our community to be part of the change we want to see in the world is our purpose going forward. It is addictively fulfilling to be part of this exciting project! Are you on board yet?
september 2023
Back to school time and for many there is a feeling that this is the start of the year again. Perhaps it’s the previous teacher in me that has the circadian rhythm of the year set on default. We note the new customers coming in with the dedicated intention to improve their health and this is welcome. There are many new lessons to be learned! Every day is a school day here and when we reflect on how far we have come we realise that only now can we have considered becoming the co-operative intended.
The next few months will be busy ones. We are building the board with dedicated expertise via Boardmatch to meet the demands ahead. Working on the constitution and rules for the future position of the co-operative to ensure it reflects the true picture of what we are about.
Building the membership over the past few years we have learned a lot about what people are looking for. This will involve the membership fee structure changing to reflect an annual renewal basis or lifetime option. The ultimate premise of co-operatives is one member, one vote. Retaining this core principle in mind and navigating through, we are clearly going to have fun on the journey.
As always we value your input!
The next few months will be busy ones. We are building the board with dedicated expertise via Boardmatch to meet the demands ahead. Working on the constitution and rules for the future position of the co-operative to ensure it reflects the true picture of what we are about.
Building the membership over the past few years we have learned a lot about what people are looking for. This will involve the membership fee structure changing to reflect an annual renewal basis or lifetime option. The ultimate premise of co-operatives is one member, one vote. Retaining this core principle in mind and navigating through, we are clearly going to have fun on the journey.
As always we value your input!
august 2023
You will be glad it's brief this month! I love August. Perhaps because it sees me turn another year. Perhaps it is like a new year and new resolution vibe. Promises to reflect on lessons learned and to start afresh etc. Timely then that we move forward with new board members and the beginning of a new constitution for The Urban Co-op. Years of experience to shape this co-operative to the needs of the community. We will be pondering these issues this month to start in earnest in September. Bring it on!
Meanwhile we are hiring!
Grocery Operative
Hours Full time flexible roster
Overview The Urban Co-op & Wellness Hub are looking for a dynamic person to join our Social Enterprise Team. You will play an active part in the development and implementation of our strategic plan to be a model co-operative in Limerick. The community grocery is the focus of the work to reflect the goals of the enterprise and this role can provide an exciting opportunity as this enterprise steps up.
Salary Based on living wage and experience
Please send your CV/Resume to [email protected] before 1st September 2023
Responsibilities
Essential
Meanwhile we are hiring!
Grocery Operative
Hours Full time flexible roster
Overview The Urban Co-op & Wellness Hub are looking for a dynamic person to join our Social Enterprise Team. You will play an active part in the development and implementation of our strategic plan to be a model co-operative in Limerick. The community grocery is the focus of the work to reflect the goals of the enterprise and this role can provide an exciting opportunity as this enterprise steps up.
Salary Based on living wage and experience
Please send your CV/Resume to [email protected] before 1st September 2023
Responsibilities
- Report to Management Team
- Sales support and customer service at tills
- Support food deliveries and stocking shelves
- Stock Management & Display
- HACCP & Health & Safety compliance
- Merchandising and promotion of the Grocery
- Supplier communication
- Support management team in the organisation and implementation of events
Essential
- Understanding of the mission and ethos of The Urban Co-op as a social enterprise
- Excellent customer service and communication skills
- Ability to keep accurate records and data
- HACCP focused
- Computer literacy
- Ability to work on own initiative, prioritizing, reviewing, and assigning work, organization and attention to detail
- Team player
- Discretion to protect the confidentiality of the business.
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends / holiday cover
- POS, Social Media platforms and schedulers.
- Ability to design creative and appealing product displays
- Ability to upskill others in a clear and effective manner
- Marketing & Digital Marketing experience
- Own transport
JUly 2023
|
Happy International Day of Cooperatives 2023
The fine weather has brought the holiday vibe in. For many of us we are counting down until we can enjoy a break! It has been busy! But it is no wonder because this month also sees us celebrate our 10th birthday as Limerick Community Grocery. What a decade it has been! We are growing up! The learning journey continues to excite us and our next phase to become a community owned co-operative officially is coming closer! A new phase is upon us! |
|
The cooperative movement marks the 2023 International Day of Cooperatives on July 1st with the theme “Cooperatives: Partners for Accelerated Sustainable Development.”
Co-operatives are demonstrating their role in catalyzing revolutionary and expedited measures towards a more inclusive and resilient society by 2030.
We are delighted to be part of the movement that is co-operation.
Co-operatives are demonstrating their role in catalyzing revolutionary and expedited measures towards a more inclusive and resilient society by 2030.
We are delighted to be part of the movement that is co-operation.
JUNE 2023
What a busy month May has been. We have welcomed a lot of visitors to the space here and realise there is no substitute for the personal experience of this space. From our theory of change we say The Urban Co-op is an environment that inspires action. Many small doable ideas in action that come together in one place and contribute to progress. We were delighted to host a visit from the learning cities group and Mayor Francis Foley.
The Urban Co-op was represented at a conference in Sheffield in May. Well worth streaming the event if you are interested in improving your metabolic health.
We held our AGM at the end of May and the annual report is up on the website. Our priorities for this year are to provide a suitable online model, pursue the legal change to co-operative and improve our organizational structure. We are coming to the end of a Succession Planning process which is helping us to lay the foundations for the future.
The Urban Co-op was represented at a conference in Sheffield in May. Well worth streaming the event if you are interested in improving your metabolic health.
We held our AGM at the end of May and the annual report is up on the website. Our priorities for this year are to provide a suitable online model, pursue the legal change to co-operative and improve our organizational structure. We are coming to the end of a Succession Planning process which is helping us to lay the foundations for the future.
MAy 2023
The pace is picking up and there is lots to report this month. Where to start!?
It has been great to welcome the warmer weather to brighten the mood after a prolonged wet spell.
We are planning our AGM for 2022 on Thursday 18th May 2023 at 8:30pm. An interesting time as our trajectory journey will mark this as the last company AGM with us hopefully a full co-operative this time next year.
We do invite members to put themselves forward at this stage for consideration onto the Board of Directors for the future Co-op. We will be seeking to set up 7 Directors as part of the co-operative structure. If you feel you have skills and talents to contribute to the development of this venture, please send in a CV and a proposal to [email protected]. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
It has been great to welcome the warmer weather to brighten the mood after a prolonged wet spell.
We are planning our AGM for 2022 on Thursday 18th May 2023 at 8:30pm. An interesting time as our trajectory journey will mark this as the last company AGM with us hopefully a full co-operative this time next year.
We do invite members to put themselves forward at this stage for consideration onto the Board of Directors for the future Co-op. We will be seeking to set up 7 Directors as part of the co-operative structure. If you feel you have skills and talents to contribute to the development of this venture, please send in a CV and a proposal to [email protected]. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
|
Life goes on as we come out of the hungry gap. We are seeing shifts in food availability from suppliers as food security issues surface. It is often only when it affects you personally you notice the bigger picture and we are having many discussions with members about the issues around where our food comes from. Reconnecting us to our sources of food is so vital for our country in the long term. We do also recognise our time is a precious resource and it is often difficult to maintain decent standards of food in the home while juggling life. Ready to cook foods are a popular solution for us all and we are delighted to bring a quality meals version to you via the collaboration of Garretts Butchers and celebrated Limerick chef Tom Flavin. We deserve good quality ingredients and are delighted with the offerings coming to us from Cook & Cleaver. Watch this space for more developments in the RTE sections. |
|
|
We attended the LAMA awards recently in Clonmel as we were shortlisted for the Best Business Working in the Community Category again. Leitrim Food Hub took the award, and we were delighted for them! After all they make the Irish Kefir for us there! |
|
We are looking for the right person to join our team as part of our scaling up to become a co-operative owned by the community.
If you are:
We have also been approved for TUS to engage two positions.
If you qualify for these roles and are interested in doing an interview please get in touch to [email protected]
You may know of someone who these roles may benefit also so feel free to pass on the information to them.
Until next month!
Anne Maher
If you are:
- Passionate about good food and community health
- Interested in working in an environment with social purpose
- Are flexible to work evenings and weekends
- Enjoy working as part of a team
- Creative and imaginative
- Willing to learn
We have also been approved for TUS to engage two positions.
- Grocery Operative
- Administrator
If you qualify for these roles and are interested in doing an interview please get in touch to [email protected]
You may know of someone who these roles may benefit also so feel free to pass on the information to them.
Until next month!
Anne Maher
April 2023
It has been rather a busy few weeks lately. An observation rather than a complaint. It feels like a collective awakening is occurring to the reality of the systems changing around us at a rapid pace. Like a wave of realisation rippling through the community that life as we have known it is about to shift there is a palpable air of urgency around echoed in the spring instinct to plant in time for the growing season.
We are moving forward with the Co-op journey and a recent meeting on site was well attended as we discussed the model of Weaver St Co-op in North Carolina USA. The general view is positive about this model and like all possibilities of change it is worth delving in to the detail to ensure it is the right move for The Urban Co-op. Rather than reinventing the wheel they have a lot of work done that we can learn from.
We are asking for member help now to help with the next stage. As a sub committee we are looking for 5 members to work on the constitution template. Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
Time to help build this model as part of our growth is being offered through the good news of our recent awarding of the Rethink Step Up Fund. Two of the five awardees are Limerick based. This 2 year support will help fund a new staff member to join the team and allow us to concentrate on this progression of The Urban Co-op. Balancing the floor work and strategy has always been a challenge but we hope that this route will provide the resources to carry the project forward.
There is more good news to share. Yet again we are one of two Limerick initiatives up for awards.
It is important to celebrate achievement and progress. We have come a long way as an enterprise supported by a growing community. Now where can we go from here?!
Anne Maher
We are moving forward with the Co-op journey and a recent meeting on site was well attended as we discussed the model of Weaver St Co-op in North Carolina USA. The general view is positive about this model and like all possibilities of change it is worth delving in to the detail to ensure it is the right move for The Urban Co-op. Rather than reinventing the wheel they have a lot of work done that we can learn from.
We are asking for member help now to help with the next stage. As a sub committee we are looking for 5 members to work on the constitution template. Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
Time to help build this model as part of our growth is being offered through the good news of our recent awarding of the Rethink Step Up Fund. Two of the five awardees are Limerick based. This 2 year support will help fund a new staff member to join the team and allow us to concentrate on this progression of The Urban Co-op. Balancing the floor work and strategy has always been a challenge but we hope that this route will provide the resources to carry the project forward.
There is more good news to share. Yet again we are one of two Limerick initiatives up for awards.
It is important to celebrate achievement and progress. We have come a long way as an enterprise supported by a growing community. Now where can we go from here?!
Anne Maher
March 2023
There is nothing quite like the brighter days to bring up the energy levels. We are the ultimate solar panels and in need of recharge in the spring. It is like a gradual awakening to the possibilities of the growing season again – full of hope and promise. It’s a good mindset to keep us focussed.
We are progressing with the concept of the co-op behind the scenes and busy researching just what will be the right fit going forward. One of the key aspects of The Urban Co-op has been the learning by doing along the way and in truth this continues to be experiential!
Ten years going now as a CLG (Company Limited by Guarantee) is quite an achievement to be fair and it is in hindsight understandable why this legal framework was used to kickstart the idea of the urban co-operative into action. It was seen as a temporary measure though and in the background there has always been the desire to be a fully community owned enterprise. A lot has happened in the last ten years and it is possibly fair to say that had we not been a CLG the concept might never have grown to where it is today. These deeper roots we hope are a great foundation to anchor us as we move this year to a fully owned co-operative model. So where to from here?
Through an analysis of various stakeholder groups and professional advice, we had explored the concept of a multistakeholder co-operative. There are a wide range of stakeholders connected with The Urban Co-op… from consumers to educational institutions and networks. The web is quite wide now. Keeping it simple though is a driver for us and we are now focussing on a model that takes it's inspiration from Weaver St Coop where they operate a hybrid model of workers and consumer owners. We hope to have a meeting soon to discuss this model in more detail but must admit the gut instinct feeling of a perfect fit for us! Get in touch if you have any questions, suggestions etc. We value your input!
Anne Maher
We are progressing with the concept of the co-op behind the scenes and busy researching just what will be the right fit going forward. One of the key aspects of The Urban Co-op has been the learning by doing along the way and in truth this continues to be experiential!
Ten years going now as a CLG (Company Limited by Guarantee) is quite an achievement to be fair and it is in hindsight understandable why this legal framework was used to kickstart the idea of the urban co-operative into action. It was seen as a temporary measure though and in the background there has always been the desire to be a fully community owned enterprise. A lot has happened in the last ten years and it is possibly fair to say that had we not been a CLG the concept might never have grown to where it is today. These deeper roots we hope are a great foundation to anchor us as we move this year to a fully owned co-operative model. So where to from here?
Through an analysis of various stakeholder groups and professional advice, we had explored the concept of a multistakeholder co-operative. There are a wide range of stakeholders connected with The Urban Co-op… from consumers to educational institutions and networks. The web is quite wide now. Keeping it simple though is a driver for us and we are now focussing on a model that takes it's inspiration from Weaver St Coop where they operate a hybrid model of workers and consumer owners. We hope to have a meeting soon to discuss this model in more detail but must admit the gut instinct feeling of a perfect fit for us! Get in touch if you have any questions, suggestions etc. We value your input!
Anne Maher
February 2023
We are off to 2023 on a good start. I love this time of year as the days get longer but also people are open to looking after themselves and thinking about health in more practical ways. They are taking control of their own destinies. A much-needed mental shift after the passive acceptance that all will be well if we trust the status quo. It has to be said. We need to invest in our own health and wellbeing more than ever.
Health insurance policies are up for renewal and every year I listen to the advice to shop around etc to get the best cover. I switched mine years ago to a novel scheme called Food is Medicine. I sense it is beginning to take off now as a viable alternative to being hostage to a failing health service system. Can I be bold enough to say it should be renamed as a sickness service executive? We underestimate our own capacity to recover and believe what is possible. Perhaps though we are being forced to look at these alternatives in plain sight? On a human level we often don’t change our behaviours until we have to or are motivated by something that is worth the effort. Or we run out of choices. For many new customers who come to us at this time of the year they have limited choices left and are debilitated by the impact of choices they have made to date. There is always hope though and every day we are amazed at results that real food will make in relatively short timeframes. We want to help you on your journey to wellness and this community support is an important part of getting there.
We will be holding another meeting shortly regarding the co-operative changeover. The last few months has been about identifying who our stakeholders and the most suitable form of co-operative for us. Capturing the essence of what we are and the potential while using a simple approach is what we are aiming for… do watch out for it as we would love your input!
Anne Maher
Health insurance policies are up for renewal and every year I listen to the advice to shop around etc to get the best cover. I switched mine years ago to a novel scheme called Food is Medicine. I sense it is beginning to take off now as a viable alternative to being hostage to a failing health service system. Can I be bold enough to say it should be renamed as a sickness service executive? We underestimate our own capacity to recover and believe what is possible. Perhaps though we are being forced to look at these alternatives in plain sight? On a human level we often don’t change our behaviours until we have to or are motivated by something that is worth the effort. Or we run out of choices. For many new customers who come to us at this time of the year they have limited choices left and are debilitated by the impact of choices they have made to date. There is always hope though and every day we are amazed at results that real food will make in relatively short timeframes. We want to help you on your journey to wellness and this community support is an important part of getting there.
We will be holding another meeting shortly regarding the co-operative changeover. The last few months has been about identifying who our stakeholders and the most suitable form of co-operative for us. Capturing the essence of what we are and the potential while using a simple approach is what we are aiming for… do watch out for it as we would love your input!
Anne Maher
january 2023
A Happy New Year wish to all our members and readers! Welcome to 2023! Taking the tentative step in to a new year after what was for us quite a challenging year. However, it was also a turning point in our maturity and for that we acknowledge the hard work of the staff to maintain the constancy for the seven day a week business that we have become. This is no mean feat as we have managed to maintain the business with reduced staff while planning for the future.
Our sights are clear on the goal to become the co-operative we are meant to be. Our strategic plan is our guide for our direction forward.
Becoming the co-operative model is our journey this year and the process is underway. We are working with ICOS to develop a rule book for a multistakeholder model. Experiential learning throughout our ten years has shown us that there are many stakeholders who potentially benefit from this enterprise. Teasing this out into appropriate categories is helped with your input. If you haven’t filled in our survey please do! The more information we have the better! One thing is for certain. Co-operatives are the way forward.
Want to make a difference this year? Maybe The Urban Co-op is the answer! We are actively seeking expertise to join us as Board Directors for the full co-operative. If you feel you have expertise to offer and are willing to volunteer considerable time get in touch with us at [email protected].
Co-operation is about us all helping each other. From that we all benefit. Simple really..
Anne Maher
Our sights are clear on the goal to become the co-operative we are meant to be. Our strategic plan is our guide for our direction forward.
Becoming the co-operative model is our journey this year and the process is underway. We are working with ICOS to develop a rule book for a multistakeholder model. Experiential learning throughout our ten years has shown us that there are many stakeholders who potentially benefit from this enterprise. Teasing this out into appropriate categories is helped with your input. If you haven’t filled in our survey please do! The more information we have the better! One thing is for certain. Co-operatives are the way forward.
Want to make a difference this year? Maybe The Urban Co-op is the answer! We are actively seeking expertise to join us as Board Directors for the full co-operative. If you feel you have expertise to offer and are willing to volunteer considerable time get in touch with us at [email protected].
Co-operation is about us all helping each other. From that we all benefit. Simple really..
Anne Maher
december 2022
Just like that the year has flown by and here we are in December! What a rollercoaster ride it has been!
Resilience is a virtue we have been working on this year it has to be said amidst the challenges everyone has faced.
We believe more than ever in the importance of having access to real food and supporting those to provide it for us. We are awake to the reality that we cannot take anything for granted when it comes to our food supply and if there was ever a time to enlist the power of community it is now. The journey towards a full cooperative is under way and we are excited to see it taking shape as a Multi stakeholder model. Dare I say it…together, yes we can...! This will mean having community ownership of this enterprise. Imagine that!
To help us on our way we have a special pre share offer linked to our Cultivate Membership . This can be a way to support The Urban Co-op to maintain and build a strong future for us all. A mutual aid model of co-operation in action. A meaningful Christmas gift of conscious consumption.
We will be delighted to tell you all about it!
To all our members, supporters, networks etc we sincerely wish you all a peaceful and fulfilling Christmas. See you on the other side!
Anne Maher
Resilience is a virtue we have been working on this year it has to be said amidst the challenges everyone has faced.
We believe more than ever in the importance of having access to real food and supporting those to provide it for us. We are awake to the reality that we cannot take anything for granted when it comes to our food supply and if there was ever a time to enlist the power of community it is now. The journey towards a full cooperative is under way and we are excited to see it taking shape as a Multi stakeholder model. Dare I say it…together, yes we can...! This will mean having community ownership of this enterprise. Imagine that!
To help us on our way we have a special pre share offer linked to our Cultivate Membership . This can be a way to support The Urban Co-op to maintain and build a strong future for us all. A mutual aid model of co-operation in action. A meaningful Christmas gift of conscious consumption.
We will be delighted to tell you all about it!
To all our members, supporters, networks etc we sincerely wish you all a peaceful and fulfilling Christmas. See you on the other side!
Anne Maher
november 2022
We are knuckling down to business lately here amidst the chaotic world events around us. Staying grounded is something we remind ourselves every day about as we navigate the shocks that are facing so many businesses with energy hikes and cost of living increases.
Our drive to change the Co-op structure is underway and a dedicated subcommittee are working hard to delve into the propose multi stakeholder model that echoes the vision of where we want to go. We are all being challenged to create a new vision of how we want the world to be for us. One thing is for certain, co-operation is our way to get there. We have had many visitors lately involved with filming us to promote social enterprises. It is always interesting to get the perspective of newcomers who see the place with fresh eyes. Themes of belonging are echoed time and time again. We realise in hindsight how disconnected we had all become in recent years but now are enjoying a newfound sense of belonging much needed for our wellbeing. Taking ownership of this feeling and feeling empowered to move forward is where we want to go. Get on board with us!
Anne Maher
Our drive to change the Co-op structure is underway and a dedicated subcommittee are working hard to delve into the propose multi stakeholder model that echoes the vision of where we want to go. We are all being challenged to create a new vision of how we want the world to be for us. One thing is for certain, co-operation is our way to get there. We have had many visitors lately involved with filming us to promote social enterprises. It is always interesting to get the perspective of newcomers who see the place with fresh eyes. Themes of belonging are echoed time and time again. We realise in hindsight how disconnected we had all become in recent years but now are enjoying a newfound sense of belonging much needed for our wellbeing. Taking ownership of this feeling and feeling empowered to move forward is where we want to go. Get on board with us!
Anne Maher
october 2022
And we are off! Changing legal structure from a company to a co-operative is our goal in the coming months and we have started the ball rolling. We welcomed Darragh Walshe from ICOS last month for an open night to help us explore the implications.
Why make this change?
It was the original plan to create an urban co-operative when the idea was first envisioned. Many members have said to us that they thought we are already… after all our name is The Urban Co-op! The subtle difference between where we are now and where we want to go? Community Ownership. We have over the years strived to get this concept working from a pilot project to a sustainable business. Through the difficult start up years, two moves, pandemics etc it was perhaps prudent to make the most of the Company Limited by Guarantee legal status to develop the organisation. We aimed to strongly maintain the co-operative principles throughout this time. And we grew.
These are challenging times for everyone but perhaps a pivotal time to demonstrate the power of a collective community in the form of a co-operative.
A co-operative is an enterprise which is owned and controlled by its user members and operates for the benefit of its user members. Ownership and responsibility for our food supplies. How grown up we have become! We are putting together a subcommittee tasked with developing our own rule book. If there are members interested in being involved in this process, please do get in touch!
Anne Maher
Why make this change?
It was the original plan to create an urban co-operative when the idea was first envisioned. Many members have said to us that they thought we are already… after all our name is The Urban Co-op! The subtle difference between where we are now and where we want to go? Community Ownership. We have over the years strived to get this concept working from a pilot project to a sustainable business. Through the difficult start up years, two moves, pandemics etc it was perhaps prudent to make the most of the Company Limited by Guarantee legal status to develop the organisation. We aimed to strongly maintain the co-operative principles throughout this time. And we grew.
These are challenging times for everyone but perhaps a pivotal time to demonstrate the power of a collective community in the form of a co-operative.
A co-operative is an enterprise which is owned and controlled by its user members and operates for the benefit of its user members. Ownership and responsibility for our food supplies. How grown up we have become! We are putting together a subcommittee tasked with developing our own rule book. If there are members interested in being involved in this process, please do get in touch!
Anne Maher
september 2022
The Vitamin D is banked up after the glorious sunshine in August and I hope all the members got a chance to share in the free harvest too. Solar energy to charge up the batteries? Just what we needed… as it is time to rev up and get going!! Feeling well and being well makes life so much easier!
How proud we are to bring you the Strategic Plan for The Urban Co-op! It gives us a concrete direction for where we need to go in the future. What a crazy few years it has been but somehow we sense we are at the cutting edge of a new way of living amidst the chaos of readjustment.
Are we paying attention to all the drip feed about the challenges we will face when accessing the resources we have become used to? While the richer become extraordinarily richer, the rest of the world are reminded we are going to have problems accessing the basics. The constant anxiety and threat is understandable for the majority who have trusted the systems in place to provide the answers. I believe we are in a major transition phase where we are learning to find ways to empower ourselves to achieve material security. The Urban Co-op has sought to provide the means for material security through meeting our basic needs: provision of good quality food to keep us healthy can go a long way to helping us change the world. Ensuring we have ownership and sovereignty of this precious resource is our objective in the strategic plan. As a full co-operative we can access share capital to allow the significant membership the opportunity and benefit of collective ownership and autonomy. What a gift that will be to our community!
This month we will be hosting an information evening to explain the new directions for The Urban Co-op and you can have an opportunity to find out more! Watch this space!
Anne Maher
How proud we are to bring you the Strategic Plan for The Urban Co-op! It gives us a concrete direction for where we need to go in the future. What a crazy few years it has been but somehow we sense we are at the cutting edge of a new way of living amidst the chaos of readjustment.
Are we paying attention to all the drip feed about the challenges we will face when accessing the resources we have become used to? While the richer become extraordinarily richer, the rest of the world are reminded we are going to have problems accessing the basics. The constant anxiety and threat is understandable for the majority who have trusted the systems in place to provide the answers. I believe we are in a major transition phase where we are learning to find ways to empower ourselves to achieve material security. The Urban Co-op has sought to provide the means for material security through meeting our basic needs: provision of good quality food to keep us healthy can go a long way to helping us change the world. Ensuring we have ownership and sovereignty of this precious resource is our objective in the strategic plan. As a full co-operative we can access share capital to allow the significant membership the opportunity and benefit of collective ownership and autonomy. What a gift that will be to our community!
This month we will be hosting an information evening to explain the new directions for The Urban Co-op and you can have an opportunity to find out more! Watch this space!
Anne Maher
august 2022
At a time of abundance as the land yields its wonderful local produce and glorious sunshine treats us to a holiday mode, there is a palpable air of discontent in Europe amongst the farming community and it is fair to say that here in The Urban Co-op we are concerned about how it will all play out for our food security situation.
Should we sound the alarm that all may not be well and that the way we have known our food systems to be are radically changing in the name of progress?
A tipping point has been reached and farmers are protesting strongly against efforts from the powers that be to drive forward towards what is known as the 4th Industrial Revolution or Great Reset. Not so long ago farmers were strongly encouraged to scale up to feed the world and the young generation of farmers were celebrated for ambitious expansion. But now it’s a handbrake halt as farmers are being “encouraged” to cut their businesses by 30% in the name of climate change. Are we seeing the global elite give up 30% of their livelihoods? 30% of that extreme wealth might go a long way to solving problems.
Buckle up though as changes are coming that we will not be happy with! It is though time to be masters of our own destiny and food security. In the midst of the confusions being created about what is considered food and nourishment we must actively protect and nurture the skills and talents of those who can provide us with real food.
Our Strategic Plan is finally here and in it we have set out the plans on how we can achieve control over our own food supply. We must do this ourselves! We have the power to protect our own communities.
Becoming a co-operative in true spirit is where our destiny lies. Although we have operated under co-operative principles we are still a Company Limited by Guarantee. As we enter our 10th year there have been many challenges faced and achievements gained. No longer an idea, it is a work in progress that has built a strong network of support. There is an opportunity here to collectively build and invest in our future towards where we want it to be by changing to a registered co-operative. Renewed interest in this model is timely as we face an accelerated pace in global decision making.
The power of people is what the co-operative movement is about and now more than ever it is time to demonstrate this potential.
Anne Maher
Should we sound the alarm that all may not be well and that the way we have known our food systems to be are radically changing in the name of progress?
A tipping point has been reached and farmers are protesting strongly against efforts from the powers that be to drive forward towards what is known as the 4th Industrial Revolution or Great Reset. Not so long ago farmers were strongly encouraged to scale up to feed the world and the young generation of farmers were celebrated for ambitious expansion. But now it’s a handbrake halt as farmers are being “encouraged” to cut their businesses by 30% in the name of climate change. Are we seeing the global elite give up 30% of their livelihoods? 30% of that extreme wealth might go a long way to solving problems.
Buckle up though as changes are coming that we will not be happy with! It is though time to be masters of our own destiny and food security. In the midst of the confusions being created about what is considered food and nourishment we must actively protect and nurture the skills and talents of those who can provide us with real food.
Our Strategic Plan is finally here and in it we have set out the plans on how we can achieve control over our own food supply. We must do this ourselves! We have the power to protect our own communities.
Becoming a co-operative in true spirit is where our destiny lies. Although we have operated under co-operative principles we are still a Company Limited by Guarantee. As we enter our 10th year there have been many challenges faced and achievements gained. No longer an idea, it is a work in progress that has built a strong network of support. There is an opportunity here to collectively build and invest in our future towards where we want it to be by changing to a registered co-operative. Renewed interest in this model is timely as we face an accelerated pace in global decision making.
The power of people is what the co-operative movement is about and now more than ever it is time to demonstrate this potential.
Anne Maher
july 2022
The longest day is passed and the corner is turned on the year as we head towards the darker days. Gloomy to consider after the last few months of increasingly negative news bombarding us on inflation, energy costs etc.
Like every one we too are facing the realities of cost increases. Energy costs are showing no signs of plateauing and this is a tough reality for everyone. We really are going to have to make difficult choices in the winter.
World-wide there are major changes happening in our food supply lines. Certain stories are circulated widely to remind us that food shortages can readily happen. As an agricultural country perhaps we feel a buffered effect from the threat of food shortages ourselves. History though must remind us that we should never take our food supplies for granted and utilise our resources wisely. Abundance and overproduction have been a feature of our generations view of food. How much time do we spend on food waste while we essentially are undernourished? The food system has clearly not worked and one of the reasons why we are in a tumultuous changeover period. Appreciation for the skills of growing and producing food is shown in the just rewards. Money is a value put on proof of work. Nourishing delicious food is proof of work and we value it highly here.
Anne Maher
Like every one we too are facing the realities of cost increases. Energy costs are showing no signs of plateauing and this is a tough reality for everyone. We really are going to have to make difficult choices in the winter.
World-wide there are major changes happening in our food supply lines. Certain stories are circulated widely to remind us that food shortages can readily happen. As an agricultural country perhaps we feel a buffered effect from the threat of food shortages ourselves. History though must remind us that we should never take our food supplies for granted and utilise our resources wisely. Abundance and overproduction have been a feature of our generations view of food. How much time do we spend on food waste while we essentially are undernourished? The food system has clearly not worked and one of the reasons why we are in a tumultuous changeover period. Appreciation for the skills of growing and producing food is shown in the just rewards. Money is a value put on proof of work. Nourishing delicious food is proof of work and we value it highly here.
Anne Maher
june 2022
What a busy month May has been and we can feel the pace of progress accelerating. As the gardens and farms grow so too is our momentum at The Urban Co-op. How wonderful is it to see the groups returning to share the spaces here as they find their own health pathways! From expectant parents to the sage wisdom of the elderly we are seeing all ages now avail of the goods and services here at this unique hub. Inspiring conversations and connections being re-established and strengthened.
Our networks are widening every day and it is so encouraging to be a social connector that is providing inspiration for other communities to do something innovative to build our new world. We have all been forced to reprioritise where and how we focus our energies. But the human connection is a vital part of this refocus and we appreciate the opportunities to meet and engage with people every day.
It was wonderful to take a part in the launch of the Burren Geofood project recently and experience the real appreciation for local food in an innovative way!
Our recent hosting of the Social Business Fair event is another avenue of networking that we recognise is important for an appreciation of our own local resources and how we can co-operate with each other to develop and thrive. It is the only way!
Anne Maher
Our networks are widening every day and it is so encouraging to be a social connector that is providing inspiration for other communities to do something innovative to build our new world. We have all been forced to reprioritise where and how we focus our energies. But the human connection is a vital part of this refocus and we appreciate the opportunities to meet and engage with people every day.
It was wonderful to take a part in the launch of the Burren Geofood project recently and experience the real appreciation for local food in an innovative way!
Our recent hosting of the Social Business Fair event is another avenue of networking that we recognise is important for an appreciation of our own local resources and how we can co-operate with each other to develop and thrive. It is the only way!
Anne Maher
MAY 2022
MAYDAY! ALREADY!
Ok the bright days are back and that is welcome! Time to plant and get those gardens going. It has been encouraging to see so many customers eagerly organising themselves for food production no matter how small this year. Every little bit counts.
You may have noticed our excitement recently at taking the Bronze award in the recent All Ireland Community & Council Awards! This is our third year to win an award in the category “Best Business Working in the Community”. The Urban Co-op is certainly on the map and your consistent support has made this possible.
We are always interested to meet new members who join up and begin their journey with us. Welcome to all the new comers recently!! If this is your first time reading a newsletter buckle up! There is so much going on here!
We have the AGM for 2021 on 5th at 8pm and are so looking forward to meeting in real life this year! Zoom and Teams have their place but there is no substitute for the in person!
Like all businesses we are seeing the prices rise as we take in stock. From having stable prices for extended periods of time to the fluctuating unknowns is a shift for us all to cope with. We are maintaining margins in order to keep up to date with it all and all of us hope and pray that stability comes back again. The dilemma of true price is a challenge for many who have been used to spending mostly on foods heavily subsidised. The journey to find a balance may be a painful realisation for many that is necessary to develop a truly sustainable food system.
The spirit of co-operation is one that strongly underpins our values here. People helping people. Thankfully there is more awareness that we must move away from a competitive mind-set in order to collaborate successfully.
Can we ask a favour? We would really appreciate if you take the time to do a Google Review for The Urban Co-op or a Like and Share on our Facebook/Instagram pages. Every little helps!
Anne Maher
Ok the bright days are back and that is welcome! Time to plant and get those gardens going. It has been encouraging to see so many customers eagerly organising themselves for food production no matter how small this year. Every little bit counts.
You may have noticed our excitement recently at taking the Bronze award in the recent All Ireland Community & Council Awards! This is our third year to win an award in the category “Best Business Working in the Community”. The Urban Co-op is certainly on the map and your consistent support has made this possible.
We are always interested to meet new members who join up and begin their journey with us. Welcome to all the new comers recently!! If this is your first time reading a newsletter buckle up! There is so much going on here!
We have the AGM for 2021 on 5th at 8pm and are so looking forward to meeting in real life this year! Zoom and Teams have their place but there is no substitute for the in person!
Like all businesses we are seeing the prices rise as we take in stock. From having stable prices for extended periods of time to the fluctuating unknowns is a shift for us all to cope with. We are maintaining margins in order to keep up to date with it all and all of us hope and pray that stability comes back again. The dilemma of true price is a challenge for many who have been used to spending mostly on foods heavily subsidised. The journey to find a balance may be a painful realisation for many that is necessary to develop a truly sustainable food system.
The spirit of co-operation is one that strongly underpins our values here. People helping people. Thankfully there is more awareness that we must move away from a competitive mind-set in order to collaborate successfully.
Can we ask a favour? We would really appreciate if you take the time to do a Google Review for The Urban Co-op or a Like and Share on our Facebook/Instagram pages. Every little helps!
Anne Maher