Plunkett and the Coop have published their report entitled Ripple Effect: the social impact of the rural community business sector and the Plunkett Foundation

The report has recently been updated in light of Covid-19 with fresh introductions and the stories of two inspiring community businesses, which show us that even in the midst of challenging circumstances the community business sector has continued to deliver high impact and make a difference to people’s lives.

The findings were released last week to coincide with Co-operatives Fortnight, which highlight the social impact of rural community businesses in four key areas:

• affection (community cohesion and inclusivity)
• creation (local participation)
• protection (support and services)
• subsistence (jobs and training opportunities)

The co-operative business model has stood the test of time and proven over and again how powerfully it enables to communities to connect with one another and to thrive. Community owned businesses have a critical role to play in their local economy and a community’s wellbeing – we therefore urge the government not to overlook their potential as together we seek to rebuild the UK beyond COVID-19, especially in more remote areas.

To access the report click here