Our purpose

We aim to empower young cooperators to actively participate in shaping the future of the cooperative movement, ensuring it reflects the needs and vision of younger generations. Our mission is built on three core pillars:

1. 1. Community Building: Fostering an inclusive space where young cooperators can join forces to achieve a common vision.
   2. Advocacy & Representation: Improving the visibility of youth-led cooperative businesses and advocating for better representation in decision-making spheres, including a "youth seat" on the Cooperatives Europe Board.
   3. Capacity Building: Providing networking and peer-learning opportunities to share resources, skills, and experiences.

Our story 

 Originally founded in 2015 as an informal and grassroots movement to address the lack of youth representation in boardrooms and conference panels, the YECN underwent a major relaunch in Cardiff in November 2022.

This gathering of over 50 young people from 10 countries helped redefine our identity and structure, turning past challenges like fragmentation and limited coordination into a strong, common agenda for the future.

In November 2025 the youth network officially became a committee under the Cooperatives Europe umbrella.

How we work