Not sure if this should be here, so please redirect if it is in the wrong place.

It is likely many of you if not all of you have heard of the term "cooperative". But I bet most of you have never really researched into what a cooperative does and yet you have preconceived ideas on what happens in a cooperative. This article is the first article aimed at empowering you with the knowledge to not only understand what a cooperative is, but to participate and benefit from one.

A cooperative is a businesses owned and run by its members for its members. Members often have something in common like heritage, interests, work, geographic location and more.

Member all have equal voting rights and when profits are made this is shared amongst members or reinvested according to the decision of members. Often cooperatives may work together to improve the lives of all members in a given community. Jamaican and Nigerian cooperatives have often been known to put aside each month a given amount to a central fund and each month the group gives this to one of the members (or something to this effect) but in actual fact operating models and income streams and income release can be defined in any way and decided by the group (sometimes this changes as business models are often flexible).

Co-operatives are businesses, not charities, so the aim is to profit financially, socially or otherwise (i.e. obtaining scarce products/services). By working together, members do better in their individual monetary investments. savings and businesses than they would have separately.

Cooperatives can invest locally and internationally promoting growth in areas underlooked by various organisations.

So here is my proposal. I am thinking of starting a cooperative:

- It would have a legal structure.

- It would have a steering group that ensures the interests of all members are followed (lets say the steering group/committee sits for 3 years before re-election, for very first term would sit for 5 years to raise funds and profile).

- It would invest in areas/business members have knowledge of or experience or a need for i.e.

Any idea that comes up through cooperative brainstorming
Entertainment- Books/Movies/TV Shows
Business Start Up Seminars/Training/ Ancillary Services (i.e. Websites, Accounting, Marketing, Legal etc)
Recruitment Firms and Career/Employment Advice
Childcare/Daycare Services and Babycare Products
Food and Drink (Catering, Restaurants, Consumer products, Trade/Distribution)
Education (Schools/Tuition Classes)
Family/Relationships
Fashion, Hair and Beauty
Homes and Gardens (Real estate development and related services i.e. plumbing, electricians etc)
Living Overseas (Relocation to Nigeria company specialising in cargo, accommodation, schools, healthcare, settling in etc)
Politics (in UK and Nigeria)
Social Events (Celebrations, Festivals, Parties, Wedding Planners)
Travel/Holidays (Vehicle Shipment to Nigeria, Investing in Tourism in Nigeria, Travel Agency etc)

- It would create profit financially, it would offer employment opportunities, it would offer experience and exposure and have a community building outlook.

- It would be for Nigerian families in the UK (at first or permanently)

- There would be monthly payments of £50, a member can withdraw money by leaving subject to notice period in the constitution. So if for example there were 20 members, £12k would be generated in the first year from contributions. Members can invest more than a minimum with a view to sharing more of the profit based on their financial investment, members can also share more in profit through trading their time i.e. acting as accountant or building brick walls for a development totaling 10 hours.

If you are interested in setting up this cooperative with me and have suggestions or strong opinions, please contact me at ellaoku@gmail.com

Thanks

Regards

Mrs Ella Inedia

oops pls delete this one! I posted it twice by accident! sorry. the system was playing up.

ell77: Not sure if this should be here, so please redirect if it is in the wrong place.

It is likely many of you if not all of you have heard of the term "cooperative". But I bet most of you have never really researched into what a cooperative does and yet you have preconceived ideas on what happens in a cooperative. This article is the first article aimed at empowering you with the knowledge to not only understand what a cooperative is, but to participate and benefit from one.

A cooperative is a businesses owned and run by its members for its members. Members often have something in common like heritage, interests, work, geographic location and more.

Member all have equal voting rights and when profits are made this is shared amongst members or reinvested according to the decision of members. Often cooperatives may work together to improve the lives of all members in a given community. Jamaican and Nigerian cooperatives have often been known to put aside each month a given amount to a central fund and each month the group gives this to one of the members (or something to this effect) but in actual fact operating models and income streams and income release can be defined in any way and decided by the group (sometimes this changes as business models are often flexible).

Co-operatives are businesses, not charities, so the aim is to profit financially, socially or otherwise (i.e. obtaining scarce products/services). By working together, members do better in their individual monetary investments. savings and businesses than they would have separately.

Cooperatives can invest locally and internationally promoting growth in areas underlooked by various organisations.

So here is my proposal. I am thinking of starting a cooperative:

- It would have a legal structure.

- It would have a steering group that ensures the interests of all members are followed (lets say the steering group/committee sits for 3 years before re-election, for very first term would sit for 5 years to raise funds and profile).

- It would invest in areas/business members have knowledge of or experience or a need for i.e.

Any idea that comes up through cooperative brainstorming
Entertainment- Books/Movies/TV Shows
Business Start Up Seminars/Training/ Ancillary Services (i.e. Websites, Accounting, Marketing, Legal etc)
Recruitment Firms and Career/Employment Advice
Childcare/Daycare Services and Babycare Products
Food and Drink (Catering, Restaurants, Consumer products, Trade/Distribution)
Education (Schools/Tuition Classes)
Family/Relationships
Fashion, Hair and Beauty
Homes and Gardens (Real estate development and related services i.e. plumbing, electricians etc)
Living Overseas (Relocation to Nigeria company specialising in cargo, accommodation, schools, healthcare, settling in etc)
Politics (in UK and Nigeria)
Social Events (Celebrations, Festivals, Parties, Wedding Planners)
Travel/Holidays (Vehicle Shipment to Nigeria, Investing in Tourism in Nigeria, Travel Agency etc)

- It would create profit financially, it would offer employment opportunities, it would offer experience and exposure and have a community building outlook.

- It would be for Nigerian families in the UK (at first or permanently)

- There would be monthly payments of £50, a member can withdraw money by leaving subject to notice period in the constitution. So if for example there were 20 members, £12k would be generated in the first year from contributions. Members can invest more than a minimum with a view to sharing more of the profit based on their financial investment, members can also share more in profit through trading their time i.e. acting as accountant or building brick walls for a development totaling 10 hours.

If you are interested in setting up this cooperative with me and have suggestions or strong opinions, please contact me at ellaoku@gmail.com

Thanks

Regards

Mrs Ella Inedia

Nice idea