The Community Shares Unit will develop a number of valuable resources to support communities, investors and other organsiations exploring the possibilities of community shares. 

For now, there are a number of useful resources which were produced as part of the Community Shares Action Learning Project 2009-2011: 

The Practitioners' Guide to Community Shares was launched at a Community Shares event on 7th July 2011.  For your copy of this latest and most comprehensive guide on how to undertake a share issue and meet best practice guidelines Download here

To order printed copies of The Practitioners' Guide to Community Shares @ £15 each see the order form below (bottom of page word document)

Community Shares: Practitioner’s Guide to Governance and Offer Documents July 2010
This publication provides guidance on two topics: the legal and governance formats for organisations offering community shares; and community shares offer documents, inviting the public to invest in community shares. Download here

Investing in Community Shares This publication is the latest guidance aimed at those who may be considering investing in community shares July 2010 Download here

The most comprehensive suite of resources developed for community enterprises by Co-operatives UK, to give community enterprises access to top quality financial, legal and governance advice.

Community Investor Research - Who is Buying Community Shares and Why?
This guide is aimed at community groups considering a community share issue and is based on the findings of research into the community investor which aimed to find out who is buying community shares and why they are doing so.  Published September 2010
To download the Executive Summary click here
To download the Full Report click here

Community Investment in Community Supported Agriculture (27 Oct 2009) The report has been produced by Jim Brown for the Community Supported Agriculture Strand of Making Local Food Work. Download Here

The Community Shares programme: One year on
This report provides a summary of the findings from the first year of the Community Shares Programme, a two-year action-research project funded by the Office of the Third Sector and the Department for Communities and Local Government working in partnership with the Development Trusts Association and Co-operativesUK  Download here

Who is buying community shares? Key Findings July 2010 Download here

Better Business: rural communities unlocking their potential together
The Plunkett Foundation sees that there is a better way to do business in rural communities.  Co-operatives, mutuals and social enterprises ranging from  community-owned shops and woodlands to co-operative pubs and broadband, have demonstrated that they are sustainable, robust and not only survive but thrive in rural communities facing challenging times.  An inspirational guide with practical examples of the ways in which communities are putting the Big Society into action click here

To Buy, To Bid, To Build: Community Rights for an Asset Owning Democracy
Ownership of local assets by community organisations and individuals, particularly in low-income areas, can help liberate people from social inequality, economic dependency and entrenched poverty.  Published by DTA click here