Watch: Care to Co-operate’s BSL videos about helping Welsh people form co-operatives for care and well-being

Care to Co-operate is a Welsh Government funded project of the Wales Co-operative Centre. The purpose of our project is to help people and communities with shared needs and interests form their own care, and well-being co-operatives.

To support this purpose, we have produced an online toolkit, which is now available in British Sign Language. We have worked closely with interpreters to produce the toolkit, and to provide the essential ‘Resources‘ and ‘Glossary‘ pages in BSL, with each topic having its own dedicated video.

The videos will take you through the five key areas of understanding necessary to start your own co-operative; –

• Co-operation and the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act – you’ll learn how co-operation works so well with the Act,
• Strategy – we take you through how to plan your well-being activities in order for it to achieve its long term aims. The online toolkit we’ve designed will help you look at the strengths and weaknesses of your idea,
• Legal structures – in this topic we look at the various legal structures available and how you can choose the right one for your co-operative,
• Governance – in this topic we cover how to involve members in the decision making process, the types of rules your co-operative will need to follow to work effectively and the roles and responsibilities of board members,
• Opportunities for services – in this topic we look at the opportunities the Act presents to co-operative delivered services.

Co-operatives are person-centred, non-profit organisations that are built on a foundation of accessibility. We want our toolkit to share this ethos by providing support that is more inclusive, and accessible, to all those wishing to form their own care or well-being co-operative.

If you would like to provide feedback on the BSL content, or would like our support in helping you form your own co-operative, please contact the Care to Co-operate Team.