radical routes co-ops for grassroots control and social change
DESCRIPTION
Evolution of Radical Routes u 2005 Radical Routes has around 35 member co-ops u 1986 New Education Housing Co-op buys house in Birmingham u 1988 Radical Routes begins as a project to promote radical co-ops u 1991 Radical Routes registers as a secondary co-operative u 1998 An ethical investment society, Rootstock, is formed u 2002 First co-operative social club joins Radical RoutesTRANSCRIPT
Radical Routes
Co-ops for grassroots control and social change
www.radicalroutes.org.uk
Beginnings of Radical Routes
“How to Set Up a Housing Co-op” (1987)This booklet described how unwaged people could take collective control of their housing
Radical Routes came out the idea of using this model to set up co-ops with explicitly radical/social purposes
Evolution of Radical Routes
2005 Radical Routes has around 35 member co-ops
1986 New Education Housing Co-op buys house in Birmingham
1988 Radical Routes begins as a project to promote radical co-ops
1991 Radical Routes registers as a secondary co-operative
1998 An ethical investment society, Rootstock, is formed
2002 First co-operative social club joins Radical Routes
Radical Routes is a “Secondary Co-op”
Secondary co-op
Co-op
Co-op
Co-op Co-op
Co-op
Co-op
Co-op
Primary co-ops
A secondary co-operative is a “co-op of co-ops”, providing services and support to the primaries
Secondaries were most active in the 1970s and 80s, developing and servicing the state funded co-operative housing sector
In the late 80s the Government turned against state funded co-operatives
Few true primary co-operatives and no true secondaries now exist in the state funded housing sector
What does Radical Routes do?
Radical Routes
Member co-ops
Loans
Advice
Mediation
Training
Inspiration
Service payments
Interest on loans
Unpaid work commitment
Publicity & promoting radical co-ops
Lobbying
The Outside WorldGetting new members
Raising funds
How does Radical Routes work?Run by consensus decision making at quarterly gatherings
Gatherings rotate around the country
Only one paid job: financial admin.
Rootstock raises investment which is transferred to RR as shares
Members take on unpaid work commitments
Art, media, design
Community
Music and Alternative Culture
Direct Action
Campaigning
Taking control of work
Conclusion
Co-ops are one way for people to take back control of their housing, work and play
There are other approaches – trusts, charities, LLPs…
Co-ops that are explicitly and actively working for social change should consider joining Radical Routes