The Manchester Co-operative Credit Union (1977) Limited Philosophy.
- A Co-operative society is a group of people who have come together to help themselves achieve a better quality of life
- Every member accepts that
- He is an owner
- He benefits from success
- He shares in failures
- He joined because he wants to help another human being, and help himself.
- Man’s pride and dignity do not permit him to accept hand-outs indefinitely.
- A co-operative is organized to mobilize and use most effectively the talents, skills, knowledge and time of its members for the good of all.
- Profit making is not a primary consideration, although it is necessary to run a business effectively.
- Service is the aim of the group- the best possible service. Hence the expression- not for profit, not for charity, but for service.
- Man feels some responsibility for his fellow man- his brother. Hence, I am my brother’s keeper.
- Man is a social being, and therefore recognizes his need for, and dependence on others.
- Man feel some measure of responsibility for others, whether consciously or unconsciously, and demonstrates it at all times e.g. concern for a friend “How are you?” “Good morning,” “God bless you,” “ Keep well” etc.
- A further demonstration is giving someone a drink, donating to charity, etc.
- Co-operative is an opportunity to prove in modest measure the practicality of the brotherhood of man.
- The best form of assistance is not through hand-outs, but through an opportunity to help and improve one self. A co-operative provides this opportunity.
- Success in a co-operative depends on what each member puts in. it is a pooling of all resources for the common good.
- Benefits are provided principally according to need.
- With all of this, goes responsibility, the members must run it, they must equip themselves, they must do the work, they must be competent and efficiently.
