Plunkett UK (formerly Plunkett Foundation) is a charity in the United Kingdom that aims to help rural communities create and run democratic community-owned businesses, such as shops, cafes, and farms. The charity strives for resilient and inclusive rural communities, and has promoted the community ownership model for over 100 years.
Background
Plunkett Foundation was founded in 1919 by a pioneer of rural co-operation in Ireland, Sir Horace Plunkett. Since being founded, it has been involved in a range of work relating to international development, rural development and agricultural development. The foundation is based in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. In 2024, Plunkett Foundation changed its name to Plunkett UK to reflect its UK-oriented operations, although it is still registered as its former name.
The foundation works with the International Co-operative Alliance, Cooperatives UK, Cooperatives Europe and the International Co-operative Agricultural Organisation.United Diversity Coop website, The Dunsany Declaration for Rural Co-operative Development document
Work In 2007, the charity led the work of the Making Local Food Work programme which supported community food enterprises in England.Food And Agriculture Organization for the United Nations website, Family Farming Knowledge Platform Other projects include More Than a PubPlunkett Foundation website, Being More Than a Pub document and Rural Community Shops.One East Midlands website, Setting Up To Enterprise
To celebrate being designated as the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives in 2012, Plunkett Foundation held the World of Rural Co-operation International Roundtable event at Dunsany Castle. Rural 21 website, Cooperatives, article dated 2012-06-13 This event led to the development of the Dunsany Declaration for Rural Co-operative Development,Dunsany Declaration for Rural Co-operative Development – http://www.plunkett.co.uk/templates/asset-relay.cfm?frmAssetFileID=1507Food And Agriculture Organization for the United Nations website, The Dunsany Declaration document which fed into the Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade.The News Coop website, Dunsany Declaration feeds into the ICA’s Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade, article by Anca Voinea, dated November 1, 2012
In 2021, the foundation supported 400 communities.The Plunkett Foundation website, Our Story, retrieved 2023-11-16 In 2022, it reported an income of £1,052,262.Charity Commission for England and Wales website, profile page, retrieved 2023-11-16
See also Malcolm Lyall Darling
References