Hello everyone,

We have had another brill week alongside Anosh Speciality Coffee at Deadbeat (1473-1475 Pershore Road) and are happy to be able to announce that we will be joining Birmingham Artisan Markets in Bournville on Sunday 17th May from 11-3pm! Please say hi!

Update and call for support and leads for Stirchley Co-operative Development

The quick SCD update is:

SCD members have been working around the clock to look for large investment in the form of bonds (starting at £20K and max of 3.5% interest p.a.) to help bridge our funding gap and keep the project community owned. Please do reach out with any leads via email to info@stirchley.coop

SCD have also started a solidarity fund to support tenant and worker co-operative members through financial difficulties during this transition time for one-off donations of any size to help with the unexpected costs they have faced during this period. 

The full SCD update:

Over recent weeks, SCD has mobilised significant support, from Birmingham City Council, the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, sector leaders, our amazing community and the wider co-op movement, following an unexpected breakdown in negotiations with our development partner GreenSquareAccord (GSA). GSA has confirmed their commitment to sell the building to SCD and has no interest in managing or leasing it, particularly given its nature as a bespoke building intended to be co-managed by residents and businesses. Sale negotiations are actively underway but we have yet to come to a resolution and have not secured the total additional funding GSA still requires to sell.

The impact on members has been significant, including unexpected costs for housing, rent, leases, out of contract bills and utilities, storage, and of course disrupted moving plans causing stress and uncertainty. Businesses have been equally affected - Loaf remains without a premises, the Bike Foundry’s rent has risen significantly, and all three businesses cannot plan courses or teaching dates, which secure our income.

The building is on track for completion in early June 2026. Residents have been selected. Our Registered Provider status was granted by the Regulator of Social Housing in February 2026 following rigorous scrutiny of our governance and business plan. A mortgage in principle has been agreed with our banking partner.

However, due to rising interest costs from the war in Iran, we are still £1.3 short of the asking price. Even with the generous grant we received in April from Birmingham City Council, we need additional funding to bridge the gap and maintain a functional business plan which services debt repayments. The only way we can buy the building and move in as hoped is through raising additional grants and bonds at ethical interest rates.

To meet this, SCD has moved quickly to release a formal bond offer. We are looking for short to medium term loans of £20k and above. Due to the cash flow of the building, even a modest loan (£20k +) has an oversized positive effect on our cash flow and reduces our mortgage; even just a few loans or grants will help us buy the building. If you are in a position to consider an ethical investment or grant, or know someone or an organisation that is, please get in touch and we will send you the bond offer pack.

The most recent building schedule gives us an estimated move-in of early June, that's what we're aiming for. Help us reach it by sharing this far and wide. Thank you for your support so far.

We are determined to set an example as a pioneer co-operative for what’s possible for co-operative, affordable housing. Between 2020 and 2025, just 407 of the 22,483 homes built in Birmingham were let at social rent, against a waiting list of 25,000 households. SCD's 39 homes represent approximately 10% of all new social rent homes built in the city over that period.

Thank you from the SCD members!

Opening Times for Next Week: _{^{(@ 1475 Pershore Road, Birmingham B30 2NT)}}

🟢 Wednesday 13th May 12-3pm (one hour longer now!!)

🟢 Thursday 14th May 12-3pm

🟢 Friday 15th May 12-3pm

🟢 Saturday 16th May 11am-3pm

🟢 Sunday 17th May 11am-3pm at the Bournville Green in Bournville

Lunch Menu for Next Week:

Wednesday:

🔸 Tarka Daal w/ Sourdough (Ve)

Thursday:

🔸Sandwich: Falafel, hummus, pickled onion & spinach on Focaccia (Ve)

Friday:

🔸 Sandwich: Pesto, tomato, rocket (Ve) optional with Mozzarella (V)

Saturday:

🔸 No lunch planned so far, but we probably do a topped Focaccia!

If you would like us to save you a lunch please send an email to info@loaf.coop until 11am on the day before!

Pre-order Info

➡️ Click HERE to pre-order bread and buns for Wednesday till Saturday. If you don’t want to pre-order that’s alright, we always have more to sell, but we try not to let anything go to waste, so pre-orders are very helpful.

➡️ Cut-off time for all pre-orders is 11am on the day before pick up!

Thanks so much to STEAMHOUSE for their continued support in letting us use a corner of their bakery in Redditch - we honestly do not know what we would have done without their generosity.

💛 💛 💛

Thanks & see you soon!

Team Loaf

Dave, Dorit, Molly, Michael, Kate, Fliss, Neil, Mina, Rach & Pete

👉 Support the crowdfunder here

Website: loaf.coop

Updates on: Instagram

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