Free desk space and support available for start-ups that benefit communities
18 June 2019
Apply to Co-op Foundation by 31 July for support at The Federation, in Manchester.
Start-ups that use technology to support communities to co-operate, encourage innovation or boost people’s health, wellbeing or skills have until 31 July to apply for free desk space and support in central Manchester.
Up to four co-working spaces are available per organisation at The Federation, close to Victoria railway station. Successful applicants will join a broad range of existing social enterprise tenants including HIVE, which provides workshops to help young people develop digital skills; Bounceback Food CIC that fights food poverty by teaching people how to cook and donating to foodbanks; and Fluidkeys, which builds software to help developers, journalists and activists protect sensitive information.
As well as desk space, residents will also have access to meeting rooms, the opportunity to put on their own events as part of The Federation’s event series, and support to help reach their growth, sustainability, social impact and digital aims.
Desk space and support is available for up to 18 months. To apply, please visit www.thefederation.coop/support and complete the enquiry form.
Support is being provided by the Co-op Foundation, through a grant from Luminate, part of The Omidyar Group.
Louise Anderson, Senior Federation Manager, said:
“As Co-op's community space in Manchester, the Federation brings together social enterprises and innovators who care about the world we share. Through Luminate’s funding for the Co-op Foundation, we are delighted to support a number of fantastic start-ups and social enterprises who not only share our values, but work positively to create stronger communities"
Jim Cooke, Head of the Co-op Foundation, said:
“The Federation’s co-working floor is a vibrant community space filled with some of the most exciting emerging social enterprises in the North West. Limited funded desk spaces are still available, and organisations using tech to tackle social issues have until 31 July to apply. Get in touch today to find out how joining our community could help your start-up grow and succeed.”
Andrew Clarke, Principal at Luminate, said:
“Luminate is supporting the Co-op Foundation’s work at The Federation, in bringing together tech and digital entrepreneurs with social enterprises and civic innovators, united by a commitment to ethical values. Not only is The Federation providing crucial support to early-stage entrepreneurs but it’s helping them navigate complex but crucial themes in responsible technology, such as algorithmic accountability, open data and privacy, and the potential of civic tech to transform the way citizens engage with government.”
Duncan Swainsbury, Director, Bounceback Food CIC, The Federation tenant, said:
“Moving our team into The Federation has been superb for the development of our social enterprise. We've now got a base from which we can work together on tech sprints, host client meetings and share ideas with all of the other inspiring startups who use the space.”
The Federation is part of the Co-op Group Ltd. It houses a community of digital businesses and innovators in Manchester, built on ethical and co-operative values.
Luminate is a global philanthropic organisation focused on empowering people and institutions to work together to build just and fair societies.
Visit www.thefederation.coop/support to find out more.
ENDS
To request interviews with spokespeople and existing tenants, please email Rachael Dry, Communications Officer, on rachael.dry@coop.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About The Federation
The Federation is home to a community of digital innovators and civic, private and public sector businesses in Manchester. An initiative by the Co-op Group and supported by Luminate and Co-op Foundation, it is based on ethical values and a commitment to creating a more inclusive digital economy. The Federation offers co-working space and event space in the heart of Manchester with a full and diverse events programme. Find out more at http://www.thefederation.coop/ , follow The Federation on Twitter - @FederationMCR
About Co-op Foundation
- Co-op Foundation is the Co-op’s charity, helping communities UK-wide work together to make things better.
- Co-op Foundation is the leading charity tackling youth loneliness in the UK. By 2021, its Belong programme will:
- Connect and empower at least 7,500 young people to take action to tackle loneliness
- Strengthen local youth services that provide vital support and opportunities
- Engage at least 25,000 young people in a national conversation that breaks down the stigma of youth loneliness
- Co-op Foundation provides interest-free loans and grants to help eligible organisations improve local spaces that strengthen communities, and grow their incomes so they can sustain these spaces longer-term. www.coopfoundation.org.uk
About Luminate
Luminate is a global philanthropic organisation focused on empowering people and institutions to work together to build just and fair societies. It was established in 2018 by Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay. Luminate works with its investees and partners to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in, and shape, the issues affecting their societies, and to make government, corporations, media, and those in positions of power more responsive and more accountable. Luminate does this by funding and supporting innovative and courageous organisations and entrepreneurs around the world, and by advocating for the policies and actions that will drive change across four impact areas: Civic Empowerment, Data & Digital Rights, Financial Transparency, and Independent Media. Luminate was previously the Governance & Citizen Engagement initiative at Omidyar Network and is now part of The Omidyar Group. To date it has supported 236 organisations in 18 countries with $314 million in funding.
www.luminategroup.com @luminategroup
Additional quotes from partners
Ian Drysdale, Founder of Fluidkeys, said: “Federation houses a community full of optimism building tech for a better future! Having the support from Luminate to be part of the Federation community is brilliant. We don’t subscribe to the high growth, all-or-nothing approach of venture capitalism, but sometimes it feels like we’re the only ones! We like to surround ourselves with others who share our view of alternative models of sustainable business.”
Damian Payton, Founder of the HIVE Learning network, said: “The Federation is the right place for Hive. We’re a not-for-profit whose mission is to help society through education. The Federation shares those principles and is a community of people who can support us.”