This is a toolkit is for people who want to build a stronger, fairer local economy through cooperation.
From 2022 to2025, Bohemian Football Club worked with local partners to run a project called the Spark. We wanted to take our fan-owned football philosophy into the local economy to help our members and the wider community tackle the greatest challenges we face.
The aim of the project was to create the conditions for a climate cooperative in Dublin 7. We wanted to explore how climate action could also build community power and tackle inequality. To do this, we ran afterschool programmes, a Bike Library, a Library of Things, repair cafes, intergenerational dialogues, and community education under the banner of Spark Skills.
The common thread was cooperation. Every part of the project encouraged people to think differently about how we relate to each other, or local area and to the economy.
This toolkit shares what we learned. It is for anyone interested in starting something similar. Whether you're part of a community group, a school, a football club, a local authority or something else entirely, this toolkit is here to help.
We hope it helps you take the first steps.
This project was funded by the Community Climate Action Fund, managed by Pobal, and supported by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
