The government has announced a Co-operative Development Programme for England. Here's what we know so far, and what it could mean for Leicestershire.

On 25 September the government announced a £10 million Co-operative Development Programme for England. It's part of a £210 million package for high streets. The money is to help mayors and strategic authorities get more co-operatives started in their areas.

Co-operatives UK, the national body for co-ops, welcomed it. Its chief executive, Rose Marley, said: "This is a game changer. It is a clear commitment to the investment needed for significant co-operative development."

The detail of how the programme will work hasn't been published yet. Co-operatives UK says it will work with the government on it.

There's a local question. The money goes through strategic authorities, and Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland don't have one yet. On 3 September the area's ten council leaders asked the government to set up a mayoral strategic authority. Until that's settled, it isn't clear how groups here would use the programme. We'll keep an eye on it and post here when we know more.

Starting a co-op is the hard part, especially trying to raise capital. If we could access some of this development money, it would make life a little easier for us in setting up SPRoUT.