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GuideIntro

Circle Working for Co-operatives

A Co-operatives UK guide to semi-autonomous circles, domains, rounds, membership, and linking for cooperative organizations.

Source: Co-operatives UKAdded June 12, 2026Published 2021
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Why it matters

Circle working helps co-ops delegate real authority to the people closest to the work while keeping the wider organization connected.

Best for

Co-ops redesigning committees, departments, or working groups into clearer circles.

This guide is especially useful for co-ops that have too many decisions stuck in whole-group meetings. It explains how circles can hold specific functions while using rounds and linking to support participation and coherence.

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Heirloom Library entries are summaries and wayfinding notes. The original source is the best place to read the full resource.

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