Farmacy Co-op - Regenerating Health & Ecosystems

Aim

We need funds to help 1000's of people in the UK. Creating food security, building a sustainable future and regenerating health & ecosystems

WHO WE ARE

• Farmacy Co-op is a not-for-profit social enterprise based in Bakewell, Derbyshire 
• Launched in March 2020 following a £25,000 grant from Severn Trent Community Fund 
• We have one part-time worker who is paid but we're run by volunteers 
• Using the co-operative model - focused on community ownership
• Focused on long-term sustainability - we’re a brilliant local group that is making a real difference to the people in our community
• Mission-driven & helping to build stronger communities that will be resilient to any crisis 
• Offering the solutions we need - creating the future we can imagine
• We are helping to build a more sustainable future – for people & our planet
• Helping to regenerate personal health & ecosystems

WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO

• We pack & distribute boxes of organic food & essential items
• Operating every 2 weeks - distributing about 200 boxes every time 
• Working with local organic farmers & wholesalers that are also mission-driven Co-operatives
• We have 20 local volunteers helping us pack 
• Offering several organic boxes:
  • Fruit & Veg
  • Fruit 
  • Veg 
  • British (food security & seasonal)  
  • Staples - like local bread, tins, sauces, oats & much more
  • Home Essentials - natural & eco-friendly items 
  • Create Your Own box
• We have a subscription service offering discounts & food security
• Or you can buy a one-off box if your location is suitable
• We have 25 volunteer drivers (fuel is paid for & we give them a free box) helping us distribute within:
  • Derbyshire
  • Nottinghamshire
  • Birmingham
  • Cheshire
  • Staffordshire
  • Greater Manchester
  • Yorkshire

"The Farmacy Co-op is an amazing project that’s a pleasure to support.  We need to support and encourage local enterprises like this as it helps our communities thrive".  Paddy Baines - Chesterfield.

OUR VISION

Imagine a future….

• Where humanity & the planet flourish together
• Where power is decentralised & in the hands of local communities 
• Where local economic systems regenerate our ecosystems, improve our health & wellbeing & allow communities to thrive

A future vision?  We think so!

We have a big vision but have prioritised:

• Secure access to healthy food & essential items
• Improving personal health & wellbeing 
• Solutions that regenerate our ecosystems

OUR STRATEGY 

Food Systems 

• Locally Owned & Focused
• Regionally & Nationally Connected
• Completely Sustainable
• Abundant
• Secure & Resilient
• Health Focused 
• That are Regenerative - using Agroecology & Nature-Friendly Farming

Distribution Network 

• That is Community Owned 
• People Powered
• That Connects Local Economies All Over the Country 
• Using Sustainable Energy 

Healthcare Services

• That are Locally Owned 
• Not-For-Profit
• Available to All
• Focused on Healing & Regeneration
• Which Will Allow us to Thrive

WHY OUR PROJECT IS IMPORTANT

We are living through a time of extraordinary change!

Society-wide emergencies are coming & we need to be prepared for the next one.

• Experts are predicting a global food crisis 
• And food shortages in the UK 
• We have a breakdown of global supply chains 
• Climate change is happening - with more storms & flooding  
• Ecological collapse continues 
• We have elevated inflation rates already - which is set to continue - leading to economic breakdown 
• Cyber attacks on essential infrastructure has already started
• Overcoming the effects of the pandemic - we have a deterioration of public health & a mental health crisis 

Our project is needed more than ever!  

We are helping to create stronger communities that will be resilient to any crisis and at the same time - offering the solutions we need to creating the future we can imagine.  Building a more sustainable future - for people and our planet.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Would you like to be part of our exciting mission? And participate in something paradigm-shifting!

We are focused on raising a minimum of £20,000 which will allow us to expand quickly within the next 6 months.  These funds will give us the opportunity to help 1000's of people.  We will spend the money on:

• New Website 
• New Internal Systems
• Bigger Local Venue for the Packing Operation 
• Operate Weekly - so we can pack & distribute 2000+ boxes every month
• Expand the Distribution Network- delivering to more places and introduce collection points
  • Derbyshire
  • Nottinghamshire
  • Greater Manchester
  • Cheshire
  • Lancashire 
  • South Yorkshire

• Launch a Referral Program so anyone in the community can earn free boxes
• Launch our Life Saving 4 & 8 Week Health Programs
• Identify more Local Producers & Regenerative Farmers
• Recruit more Coordinators (volunteers) focused on their Community & Local Economy
• Implement our plan for marketing, business development, sales & fundraising  

Our stretch target is £50,000 which will then allow us to:

• Expand the Distribution Network- delivering to more places.  Introducing Regional Distribution Hubs, Collection Points & Local Driver routes:
  • Merseyside
  • Birmingham / West Midlands
  • Cheltenham & Gloucester 
  • Bristol
  • Northamptonshire
  • Leicestershire
  • Central & North Yorkshire
  • North East
  • Peterborough
  • Cambridge 

• Roll out the Local Coordinator / Local Economy plan
• Prepare for a Community Share Offering where all members are owners.  We will convert from a Worker-Co-op to a Multi-Stakeholder Co-op.  Real community ownership!  :)
• Launch our first Retail Store - which also doubles up as a Community Hub
• Offer paid short-term contracts to 1 - 2 core volunteers

Together we are going to create something amazing.  Check out the brilliant rewards available for any donation.  You’ll be the fuel & we’ll be the rocket.  Strap on your seat belt & let’s do this!

This project successfully funded on 13th May 2022