Co-op Alternatives

Co-operative Alternatives is the only body in Northern Ireland entirely devoted to developing successful co-operatives and community benefit societies.

[TrademarkBelfast @TrademarkBF]

📢 Event Update

Due to circumstances beyond our control, tomorrow's launch of The Democratic Alternative has been postponed.

A new date will be announced soon. We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and continued support.

[TrademarkBelfast @TrademarkBF]

📢Join us on 1 July for the launch of The Democratic Alternative: Unlocking the Potential of Northern Ireland's Co-operative Sector.

We're delighted that @Economy_NI Minister Caoimhe Archibald will officially launch the report.

Register via the QR code or Eventbrite below 👇

[nibusinessinfo @nibusinessinfo]

Regional Co-operative Support Programme | Supporting cooperatives in NI with mentoring, seed funding and practical guidance.

Application deadline: Mon 1 June 2026

Find out more >
https://t.co/zbf7QIKjVv

@TrademarkBF | @Economy_NI | @coopalts | @nihecommunity

[Co-op Alternatives @coopalts]

Buzzing for the launch of the new Co-op Support programme on 20th May in Belfast. It’s a big moment for co‑ops here, and having you in the room helps kick this whole programme off with real momentum. Register here: https://t.co/jepZV9nJi1 Chat to us and @TrademarkBF @Economy_NI

[Economy NI @Economy_NI]

Economy Minister @CArchibald_SF has hosted an event at Parliament Buildings showcasing Northern Ireland’s social economy sector.

Addressing the audience the Minister reflected on how the Department’s support for the sector has expanded significantly over the mandate, with many of those funded by @Economy_NI in attendance including representatives from social enterprises, cooperatives, employee ownership and community wealth building.

She said “This event brings together some of the key partners involved in working with my Department on the social economy to share information, to learn from each other, and to get a better sense of how we can think and act collectively as a sector. We are a year into our Social Enterprise Action plan, developed in partnership with the sector through the co-design group. We keep this plan under constant review and events like this feed into our planning.”

[Co-op Alternatives @coopalts]

Power Station is coming to Belfast! Join us Sat 28 March at The Commons for a hopeful film about a Walthamstow street trying to go off‑grid and a conversation about what real community energy could look like in NI. Film 2pm, Q&A + panel after. Tickets: https://t.co/NzwF9VrDbX

[National Energy Action NI @NEANIreland]

We are delivering our Level 3 Energy Awareness course this week to @nihecommunity, @coownershipni and @coopalts. The group is working hard calculating the consumption of electrical appliances! #Training #Energy

[Co-op Alternatives @coopalts]

New opportunities for community energy in NI with the newly published GB Energy Local Power Plan. Read more here https://t.co/s8WQRQXZFr
@JohnSocEnt @CommEnergyNI @DrumlinCoop @FermanaghTrust @Economy_NI @socentni @GBEgovuk

[TrademarkBelfast @TrademarkBF]

📢🗓 Upcoming Webinar - ‘What are Co-ops?’ on Wednesday 21st Jan 2026 ONLINE from 11.00am to 1.00pm. Webinar for all, with and without co-ops’ ideas, but willing to learn more!

📎Registration Link: https://t.co/Y7xNWCQYFO

@Economy_NI
@coopalts
@BFCleanCoop

[TrademarkBelfast @TrademarkBF]

🌱 Across towns and cities, communities are reimagining how we co-operatively grow, distribute, and share food. Let’s cultivate a fairer system.

Join us online from 6-7:30pm | Wednesday 4th Feb!
Registration Link: https://t.co/C0WV13tHlK

@Economy_NI
@coopalts
@BFCleanCoop

[TrademarkBelfast @TrademarkBF]

📍Derry | Interested in co-operatives and Community Wealth Building?

Join us next Friday (23rd) for a practical workshop exploring how co-operative business models create good jobs and keep power & wealth in local communities.

🔗 Register below via Eventbrite

[National Energy Action NI @NEANIreland]

Three things we did this week:
· Taught our City and Guilds course in Energy Awareness to @fermanaghomagh WRAP students in Enniskillen
· Spoke at a webinar run by @coopalts and @TrademarkBF
· Ran a stall at the Student Carers Event at the Downpatrick Campus @S_ERC

[Co-op Alternatives @coopalts]

Our webinar series continues! Wed 10th, 6pm with Jonathan Atkinson @CarbonCoop @PeopleRetrofit + Pat Austin & Nichola MacDougall @NEANIreland
We’ll tackle the real challenges of fuel poverty and explore how co-ops can drive change.
Register at https://t.co/JAyPFXBAMd

[Co-op Alternatives @coopalts]

We are in Newry @NMEA_WIN_NEWRY on the 3rd of December to answer any questions you may have on co-ops. Join us and discover if co-ops are for you.
👉 Register: https://t.co/yKEdKGABdr

[Co-op Alternatives @coopalts]

Still time to join our webinar on care co‑ops, 20 Nov with Aoife Smith & Gerard Doyle exploring Irish co‑ops in care. Gerard’s paper on the @GreatCareCoop shows worker‑owned models deliver better jobs & dignity. #CareCoops #FairCare #IYC2025
Register at https://t.co/Sq8QTv9AV7

[National Energy Action NI @NEANIreland]

Half of NI households told us in our @LucidTalk poll that they have reduced their use of central heating within the last 24 months due to rising energy prices and the cost of living.

#FuelPoverty #ColdHomes

[John Barry @ProfJohnBarry]

Upcoming webinars on cooperatives

https://t.co/pJvPteaBmJ

[Economy NI @Economy_NI]

📢CONSULTATION – Definition of Social Enterprise

Growing the Social Economy Sector is a priority for the Economy Minister @CArchibald_SF and making the sector sustainable is a key feature of her economic vision. In order to deliver on this, we need to ensure that funding from government is targeting social enterprises correctly.

The Department is consulting on proposed definition framework that could provide clarity on what a social enterprise is, including the features which make it different from other business models.

📄Read more and respond➡️ https://t.co/uotH362b1s

📅 Deadline – 23 December 2025

[Co-op Alternatives @coopalts]

Why are co-ops still rare in Northern Ireland, and what can we do about it? Join us in the Long Gallery, Stormont, Belfast on 13th Nov 2025 for bold ideas, global insights, and practical strategies to grow the sector. Agenda + registration: https://t.co/16i9Uwe6gO #Coops2025

[Economy NI @Economy_NI]

Economy Minister Dr @CArchibald_SF attended Sustainable Energy Communities NI showcase event at @BcashSports, Lisburn.

Speaking at the event the Minister said:

“I would like to commend @AdviceNI and its partners for pioneering the Sustainable Energy Community Project, designed to empower local communities to take control of how they generate, conserve, and use energy.

"By supporting communities to co-design their own energy future, we are not only creating fairer economic opportunities across the north, but also laying the foundations for a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economy.

Read news release:
https://t.co/pGUMyHL1nb

@atu_ie @coopalts @NEANIreland @CommEnergyNI