A Co-operative Approach to Social Inclusion in Stevenage

Principles met

• Co-production

  We will develop systems that enable citizens to be equal partners in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

• Enterprise and social economy

  We will promote community-based approaches to economic development that focus on supporting the creation of jobs, social enterprises and other businesses and providing an environment for co-operative and mutual enterprises to thrive.

• Innovation

  We will embrace innovation in how we work with local communities to drive positive change.

• Learning

  We will capture and ‘expand’ the experience and learning from individual projects and approaches in order to encourage broader application of co-operative principles within individual member Councils and across the Network.

• Maximising social value

  We will support the development of a framework and criteria for social value, giving substance to the concept and supporting Councils with the tools to ensure better local social and economic outcomes.

• New models of meeting priority needs

  In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

• Social partnership

  We will strengthen the co-operative partnership between citizens, communities, enterprises and Councils, based on a shared sense of responsibility for wellbeing and mutual benefit.