TWO co-operatives from Malvern have been praised for the work they do with some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

The Foster Care Co-operative, based in Spring Lane, and Jamboree, which runs Cafe H2O at the Wyche Innovation Centre were two of the nine finalists in the national Co-op of the Year 2015 competition.

The Foster Care Co-operative is the only not-for-profit co-op in the foster care field, while Jamboree employs people with learning difficulties to run the cafe.

Although the competition was won by Warwick-based Midcounties Co-operative, the organisers had nothing but good words for the entrants from Malvern.

Ed Mayo, Co-operatives UK secretary general, said: “All nine of our shortlisted co-operatives would have been worthy winners in their own right. With almost 7,000 co-operatives across the UK, it is remarkable that two of the nine shortlisted co-ops are based in Malvern.

"Both Jamboree and the Foster Care Co-operative stand out because of the huge impact they have on the lives of individuals. And we are talking about potentially very vulnerable members of our society.

"They are both fantastic examples of why co-ops work. The figures at The Foster Care Co-operative speak for themselves. To achieve stable placements that last more than six times the national average is incredible and demonstrates how a model based on high quality carer training - and ultimately putting the needs of children first - works.

"It is difficult not to be inspired by Jamboree. By providing life skills to people with learning disabilities, lives have been transformed, with barriers to work broken down."

Dan Rosewarne of the Foster Care Co-operative, said: "Were delighted and proud to have been in the final, as the only co-op in our field in the country."

Debbie Probert of Jamboree said: "This is absolutely huge for us. To have been shortlisted alongside these other big co-ops is a real boost for all of us. We were gobsmacked to find out we'd even been shortlisted."