Many not-for-profit organisations, such as environmental centres & resource centres, are often incorporated as community co-ops. This structure can be used for a wide range of organisations and activities - clubs, associations, community centres, voluntary groups. Or any small business, where membership is not limited to employees.

Catalyst has designed a basic community co-op structure, again incorporating consensus decision making. The founding members define what constitutes the membership criteria - it is not defined in the rules.

do it yourself

You could of course register yourselves. Company formation is a relatively easy and straightforward process.

You will need a copy of Form 10 and Form 12.

You could use this set of Memorandum & Articles for a community coop.

In the model rules, fill in your aims [clause 3a of memorandum]; complete names, addresses & signatures of the members of the co-op - in the presence of a witness who must also sign it & add their name and address [back of memorandum & articles].

Complete Form 10:
Company Name (do name check first at Companies House, also write Limited at the end not Ltd.)
Registered Office address [page 1].
Company Secretary details [page 2].
Directors' details [page 2 & 3 - if there are more than 2 directors photocopy page 3 for each extra director] [in alphabetical order].

Complete Form 12 in the presence of a solicitor/JP/Commissioner for Oaths… who will charge a fee (£5 presently).Make sure that the date on this form is the same or after all other dates.

Don´t forget to make a photocopy of your rules (or you will have to buy a copy back from Companies House!). You will need them when you want to open a bank account. Always keep a copy.

Now send these off to Companies House with a cheque for £20 (do check the fee is still this), payable to Companies House. Send to: Companies House, Crown way, Cardiff CF14 3UZ.