The Shuswap Community Resources Cooperative (SCRC) may be the new kid on the block, but it follows a model that has helped countries prosper for years.
Cooperatives are community-based organizations that care about the needs of their members and bring many benefits to the member agencies and community.
There are multitudes of reasons to join a co-op but, for the social-service organizations that were inspired by the principles and collective benefits of creating a co-op, the reason was simple: co-op members working together will benefit by being part of a unique partnership – working better, by working together.
The Shuswap Community Resources Cooperative (SCRC) provides a common ground for support to all, and allows each organization to retain its identity and independence while obtaining services that they may not otherwise be able to access on their own.
The success that non-profits have demonstrated in addressing social issues has generated increased demand for their services. Government is increasingly turning to non-profits as potential service providers and partners in tackling our most pressing social issues. Funding for community programs is continually being trimmed, and non-profits are often doing more with less. For non-profit organizations it is important to find ways to leverage expertise, share resources and find creative means to build their internal capacity. This is why the SCRC exists: to help support non-profit organizations in their delivery of their services.
In January 2012, SCRC began providing professional “accounting and administrative” services for their member agencies. Currently, the SCRC employs three bookkeepers and a co-op development manager, all bringing a variety of strengths and skills to the business office. They collaboratively support and work together to provide full-cycle, audit-ready accounting, payroll administration and business services to their clients. A co-op finance and business service that specializes in non-profit accounting makes sense, and is available to any non-profit organization requiring bookkeeping, payroll or office services.
Currently, the Shuswap Community Resources Cooperative (SCRC) membership is comprised of five agencies: Canadian Mental Health Association, Shuswap Children’s Association, SAFE Society, Shuswap Association for Community Living and Eagle Valley Community Support Services. For information regarding the Shuswap Community Resources Co-op, please call the SCRC office at 250.804.2987, or email geri@shuswapcrc.ca
-Submitted by Geri Byrne, Co-op Development Manager