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The members of a childcare co‑operative can be parents or carers, employees, community representatives, or a mixture of these and other stakeholders. With key stakeholders on board the business can be easily shaped to the needs of the market.
Co‑operatives are set up to meet a mutual need. Everyone - the members-from the management to the junior has a share of the business. Decisions are made democratically and profits are either shared amongst the members or put back into the business. The co‑operative may also decide to put its profits back into the community.
Why Choose a Childcare Co‑operative?
New Starts: Sometimes people decide to set up a childcare co‑operative as a new venture, perhaps as childcare workers, they have not yet found a setting where they enjoy working, they may want to work together with other professionals they know, but most of all, whether you are a childcare worker or a parent, you know there is a need for childcare in your area.
Sometimes parents and carers come together to set up childcare provision in their area. Thus founding a business, to meet their own needs. In this case the parents would employ the childcare workers who may or may not be members of the co‑operative.
Conversions: On the other hand a childcare co‑operative may be set up to take over an exisitng business, perhaps run by a local authority or voluntary organisations which may be struggling for a variety of reasons. A conversion to a childcare co‑operative can ensure that the workers can keep their jobs and the children and parents can still use the service.
Co‑operativesUK can advise on the best governance structure for a childcare co‑operative business.
Co‑operatives exist in many areas of business including retail stores, healthcare, financial services, information technology, housing, leisure and transport.