Co-op Fortnight – International Day of Co-ops & Creating New Co-ops

International Day of Co-operatives 2026: Four years of Our Malawi Partnership

This Saturday 4th July is International Day of Co-operatives and we are marking the occasion by looking back at what we’ve achieved through Our Malawi Partnership – which we launched on International Day of Co-operatives in 2022.

Our Malawi Partnership was created to connect smallholder farmers in Malawi directly with UK consumers through fair and ethical trade. Four years on, the initiative has become a powerful example of how co-operation can strengthen livelihoods, empower communities and build long-term resilience.

The partnership has generated more than £1 million in sales, helped provide clean water access to 37,000 people, supported sustainable farming practices and planted nearly 20,000 trees annually through reforestation initiatives.

This year's anniversary comes during the UN’s International Year of the Woman Farmer, providing an opportunity to celebrate the women whose leadership is helping shape the future of Malawi's agricultural communities.

"As we celebrate both the International Day of Cooperatives and the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we are particularly proud to champion the women leading this work in Malawi,” said Dr Sarah Alldred, Relationship Lead for Our Malawi Partnership.

“Women make up more than 70% of Malawi's agricultural labour force and produce most of the country's food, yet they often remain undervalued and under-supported. When we invest in women farmers, we invest in food security, stronger communities and a more sustainable future."

Creating new co-ops with Plunkett UK and Co-operative Futures

Since 2022, our Society has helped launch 36 new member-owned businesses across the UK, working alongside Plunkett UK and Co-operative Futures to provide funding, training, and hands-on advice - all part of backing the UK Government's ambition to double the co-operative economy.

With our support, Co-operative Futures helped register three new co-ops and supported four community asset takeovers over the past year, while Plunkett UK helped launch 34 community-owned businesses, including six pubs and four shops in our trading area.

Two stories bring this initiative to life. When The Fox Inn in Ryton, Shropshire suddenly closed, over 210 residents banded together to buy it back - and it's now thriving as a certified Warm Hub, offering free tea, coffee, and companionship each week.

In the Forest of Dean, the Wylderne community co-op took ownership of The Wilderness Centre, a beloved outdoor education site since 1969, ensuring generations to come can still raft, climb, and explore its ancient forests.

As well as helping co-ops like these within local communities, we also work with Plunkett UK, Co-op UK and Co-op Party to influence public policy to support the co-op economy.