New co-operative members needed - could you be one of our new recruits?

The Wool Clip is looking for designers and makers working in wool to join this Cumbrian co-operative. Successful applicants would join a group that has been celebrating wool and traditional wool crafts for over 20 years.

"Our membership has varied from 10 to 18 over those decades," says current Chair, Julia Neubauer, "and there is always a gradual turnover as people's situations and commitments change. We're keen to recruit up to six new people over the coming year to bring in fresh ideas, skills and products."

There is a minimal financial outlay to join the co-operative (£1) and The Wool Clip avoids duplication with the products of existing members. There's a six-month probationary period to ensure that there's a good mutual fit and, during that period, every new member is allocated a mentor to help them learn the ropes and settle in. Permanent members continue with that idea by having a buddy throughout their membership.

A key benefit for members is mutual support, not only through sharing raw (or even waste) materials and using each other's products, but also learning together, advising each other, encouraging new ideas and occasional social events and visits too.

"As a co-operative, we're all committed to working together to grow the business," says Julia. "Everyone's involved in our demonstration weekends and in attending local wool events and we're all keen to support each other's creativity. We're all involved in staffing the shop two or three days each month and we also take on additional roles to keep things going. These extra responsibilities are part of being a co-operative – that's what makes it work."

Julia Neubauer, current Chair

The Wool Clip takes a commission from work sold through the Caldbeck shop (and the online equivalent) but this is set as low as possible and simply covers the costs of shop and other overheads.

So, could you be our next new co-operative member?

The Wool Clip is looking for:

• Skilled craft workers using wool, ideally British and brilliant if Cumbrian sourced, to create original designs and wool products to stock the shop.
• Those with the time to spend a couple of days in the shop each month, meeting customers and explaining the co-operative and other people's work too.
• Enthusiasts with ideas for marketing or technical skills or IT abilities or a commitment to environmental sustainability or a strength in product display or a connection to local sheep farming … or all of the above!
• People keen to be part of a small but dedicated crafting community, meeting together roughly monthly to make a co-operative business thrive and to build connections.

If this sounds like you, please get in touch. If it sounds like someone you know, please pass on the link to this post. Thank you.