About Us
Crest Co-operative – How we Started
Crest Co-operative was established in 1998. The company evolved from a project run by Scope. This project was established with one of the very first lottery grants and the aim of the project was to establish a community co-operative to help disabled and unemployed people increase their skills and gain employment – either within the co-operative or to move on to sustainable employment within the community.
The project ran for 3 years and at the end of the project the co-operative became a not for profit limited company. A further lottery application was granted for the co-operative to develop vocational training courses to help disadvantaged people who had become socially excluded to gain life skills as well as real work experience in a supportive environment. The co-operative established two community businesses within which the training could be delivered.
Over the following five years the company evolved and saw the potential for the social sector to deliver recycling services – as this was likely to be a growth area for businesses within the UK. Taking into consideration legislation that was being introduced in Wales to make recycling mandatory, Crest Co-operative developed three new enterprises all with recycling themes with the ultimate aim of becoming a self sustaining social enterprise, but at the same time taking care not to lose its original ethos of working with and supporting disadvantaged individuals.
Crest Co-operatives Mission and Values are:
Mission
To develop sustainable social enterprises, providing training and work opportunities throughout the communities of Conwy and Denbighshire – incorporating social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
Values
- Workings as part of the local community
- Providing friendly and accessible services
- Aiming for sustainability
- Committed to quality/best practice delivery
Legal Status
Crest Co-operative is a limited company with non profit making status. It also follows co-operative principles. The membership of the co-operative is made up from key stakeholders and individuals who receive services from the organisation. Voluntary directors are elected from its membership at the Annual General Meeting. There are currently 7 voluntary directors with one place reserved for a staff representative. The executive committee meet on a bi-monthly basis throughout the year.
