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CMS Purpose & Vision

About Co‑operation & Mutuality Scotland

CMS is a membership organisation with a clear and focused purpose and vision:

Our purpose

To develop and extend co‑operation and mutuality in Scotland's communities

Our vision

• To be a strategic voice for co‑operation and mutuality
• To be a partner, with government and others, in the development and support of new and existing co‑operative and mutual enterprises
• To be an effective forum for co‑operative and mutual enterprise

The co‑operative and mutual sector has been in existence for nearly 200 years. It employs tens of thousands of people and contributes billions to the UK economy every year.

Find out more about Co‑operative and Mutual Enterprises (CMEs) in Scotland.

Co‑operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co‑operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.

The seven co‑operative principles are:

• Voluntary and open membership
• Democratic member control
• Member economic participation
• Autonomy and independence
• Education, training and information
• Co‑operation among co‑operatives
• Concern for community

Find out more about co‑operative values and principles.