The general objective of Coop4In was the creation of a cooperative business model in which the role of people with disabilities (PWDs) is pivotal and at the same time the elaboration of policy recommendations aimed at promoting the importance of creating and supporting social enterprises and cooperatives in rural areas, as a means for sustainable local development thus also increasing the quality of services provided to people with disabilities. We wanted to improve the possibility of creation of job opportunities and of the improvement of services provided to disadvantaged groups in order to create not only the enhancement of the quality of life of PWDs but also positive impact to remote/rural areas that are suffering from migration and depletion of communities and local economy. In order to support this process, the design of a specific business model was crucial in allowing local stakeholders to take action and understand the potential of social entrepreneurship for rural areas.
Cooperatives and social enterprises can be seen as sources of innovative solutions to socioeconomic challenges that have been identified as EU priorities: inclusive growth, regional economic development, smart growth, addressing poverty and social exclusion, and creating sustainable growth. It should also be stressed the role that social enterprises and cooperatives can have in rural areas: many “remote” regions are facing continuing rural-urban migration, increasing the need for services while at the same time resourcing for services is decreasing. This is making it incredibly difficult to maintain acceptable levels of well-being and economic vitality in rural communities. With the crisis caused by the pandemic that has profoundly shaken the labour market in the EU, new forms of cooperation among businesses and social groups at risk of exclusion should be explored. The project aims at creating a model for directly involving PWDs in the design and provision of services thus attempting to foster community inclusion and development from a double perspective: a.Social innovation: people of disability as actors and drivers of change in rural areas; b.Sustainable economic growth in rural areas through a business cooperative model.