The Control Group Cooperative Ltd is membership organization and a legal company registered with Companies House in the UK. We began in July 2021.
We have a permanent office, a small board of directors, a number of full-time and part-time staff, as well as an incredible team of volunteers from around the world.
The direction of our organisation is steered by our generous funding Associates and the needs our participants, who believe in personal health sovereignty and transparent, unbiased science.
- Our vision
- How did we get started?
- How is the Control Group Cooperative funded?
- Who can join the Control Group study?
- Where do our participants come from?
- What is a co-operative?
Our vision
A future where we are healthy by choice. Where every one of us has access to information about the food we eat, the treatments we use and the environment we live in; information that is clear, truthful and not dictated by financial gain.
A future where health and happiness are abundant and where open debate is encouraged, to ensure existing viewpoints are reevaluated and new ideas and information are available for consideration.
Our future is happy, healthy and free - for us, our children and generations to come.
How did we get started?
The Control Group was set up to record the self-reported, anonymized, long-term health outcomes of people who voluntarily chose not to take any Covid-19 injection. We have since expanded to include our own comparative group of people who took any number of Covid injections.
Our database is designed in such a way that we could provide a voluntary control group for: future vaccination programs, existing drugs and health supplements and environmental factors.
How is the Control Group Cooperative funded?
Control Group is a cooperative and as such, is funded by its participants - not by universities, products or pharmaceutical giants, which means we are, and will remain completely independent.
Who can join the Control Group study?
Anyone in any country can participate in the Control Group study. It is never too late to join - we plan to record the health outcomes of several generations.
Where do our participants come from?
Our participants come from all over the world; from a diverse range of socio-economic backgrounds, geographical environments and cultures. Because of this, our data will show if there are similar outcomes from treatments, medications or therapies across different backgrounds.
The map below shows the current spread and density of our participants.
What is a co-operative?
In a world driven by individualism and competition, cooperatives offer a refreshing alternative that emphasizes collaboration and empowerment. Cooperatives, or co-ops, are organizations owned and operated by their members, who work together to meet their common needs and aspirations. These unique enterprises span various sectors, from agriculture and finance to housing and healthcare, and their principles and values promote equality, participation, and sustainability.
One of the fundamental principles of cooperatives is democratic control. Each member has an equal say in the decision-making process, regardless of their investment or stake in the cooperative. This democratic structure not only empowers individuals but also ensures that the interests of the community take precedence over profit maximization. By pooling resources, knowledge, and skills, cooperatives enable members to achieve outcomes that would be challenging or impossible to accomplish individually.
Cooperatives also prioritize the well-being of their members and the communities they serve. Rather than pursuing short-term gains, they focus on long-term sustainability and equitable distribution of benefits. Co-ops aim to bring value and benefit to their members and their community, not solely focusing on making a profit. This is because they are owned by the people closest to the organization and not distant investors who are only interested in financial gains. Whether it's fair prices for farmers, affordable housing for residents, or accessible healthcare for patients, cooperatives prioritize the common good over individual profit. This approach fosters economic resilience, reduces inequality, and builds stronger, more connected communities.
Co-ops around the world share the same cooperative principles and values, which were implemented by the International Co-operative Alliance (1995) to support the cooperative movement internationally. In conclusion, cooperatives offer a transformative model that challenges conventional notions of business and fosters collaboration, empowerment, and sustainability. These enterprises exemplify the power of collective action, demonstrating that by working together, we can create a more equitable, inclusive, and resilient society. Whether in local communities or global markets, cooperatives inspire us to rethink how we do business and envision a world where cooperation takes center stage.
What are the co-operative principles?
There are seven principles that outline how a co-operative operates:
- A co-op is owned and controlled by its members and exists to benefit its members and wider community.
- Every member has an equal say due to the democratic nature of the co-op.
- Each co-op member contributes in some way. Working for the co-op, investing in it or by purchasing products or subscriptions.
- A co-operative is an independent organization with no one person in control.
- Co-operatives offer education and information to all involved to develop and promote the benefits of co-operation.
- Co-operatives work and support other co-ops.
- A co-op supports the communities it works with.
- (International Co-operative Alliance, 1995 available at: https://ica.coop/en/whats-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles)
What is a platform co-operative?
Control Group Cooperative Ltd is a multi-stakeholder platform co-operative. All that means is that it is a co-operative in structure which uses a digital platform (website) to operate. It permits statutory members who are required to attend meetings to do so via the internet rather than being physically present, meaning members can join the co-operative from all over the world. A platform co-operative structure supports the Control Group to increase the number and engagement of our members and participants, which is vital for us to achieve our goals.
The members of a platform co-operative own the platform, giving them sovereignty over the code. This also means the co-operative members have control over the privacy of the users and can provide them the transparency over what happens to the data on the platform.
What is Control Group’s membership structure?
The Control Group Cooperative Ltd has multiple membership levels.
Statutory members are members of the co-operative who are responsible for electing a board of directors and voting on important decisions that guide the direction of the business and will have a significant impact on the financial resources of the co-operative. They act as guarantors of the co-operative and are expected to attend meetings, be involved in the day to day running of the business and contribute financially by working for or investing in the co-operative.
Non-statutory members of the Control Group Cooperative include Associates, Participants, Allies and Donors and are not required or expected to contribute to the same level as statutory members are.
Associate members are individuals who choose to subscribe to the Control Group Cooperative and help provide the essential funding for the long-term sustainability of the co-operative. Associate members are encouraged to contribute to the Control Group Cooperative community, and provide input into future projects and the overall objectives of the organization. Associates are invited to join periodic steering meetings via zoom with the directors and statutory members of the Control Group.
Participants are individuals who join the Control Group and choose to contribute to the co-operative by inputting health information, which is fundamentally important for the co-operatives aims and objectives of ensuring large quantities of data is collected from around the world for independent analysis. Participant members of the co-operative are encouraged to get actively involved in the co-operative’s online community.
Allies are organizations whose aims and objectives align with those of the Control Group Cooperative Ltd. Control Group aim to support and collaborate with allies to accomplish shared goals.
Donors are individuals or organizations who financially donate to the Control Group. Donors are not necessarily members of the cooperative and they do not hold any influence over the running or the direction of the organization.