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Nathan invited me on here as I've expressed a few ideas in the past about the role of co-ops in solving problems in various industries. I've tried to keep abreast of some discussions on here and send apologies for not participating as much as I would like.
Some context: I set up this multi-stakeholder co-op www.retrofitworks.co.uk having identified this legal model as ideal for the aims of the business, not with an eye on setting up a co-op of its own sake. The model seems to be working; recent contract award to renovate 1,000 privately owned homes from the Mayor of London and starting large schemes in Devon and Oxfordshire this year. Turnover likely to be £0.5m this financial year with income for our members up at £5m.
I have been thinking on your question about the role of cooperative development programmes. I’ve also been dwelling on the void left by C and Local Government in many sectors. My view is that this is actually about ‘cooperation’ rather than it being about ‘cooperatives’. In one of Nathan's workshops we are asked ‘why are lots more co-ops not being created in the face of government roll back and the failure of capitalism?’, and ‘why are co-ops not seen to be a standard business model from which to choose’. Why not go with this situation rather than try to change it – much like I did with RetrofitWorks i.e. realise that there was a need to bring together the organisations or people around the market failure, then happily found the cooperative model as the answer.
So change the whole narrative from
‘We love co-ops, come and start one’
To
‘Let’s solve problems together, seek creative ways to collaborate, and we offer some commercial models to make it work (which is v likely to be a cooperative)’
I've got ideas on how to do all of that, but given my limited time available will need pointing at the most useful thread here on Loomio?
Cheers all.
Russell
07904 224410
Nathan Brown (Co-op Culture) Thu 19 Apr 2018 10:29AM
Hi, I'm Nathan. Came to co-ops via squatting/housing co-ops & music collectives then in late 90s started delivering support to housing co-ops, moving onto worker co-ops, social firms, credit unions etc. Full time co-op and social enterprise support provider, usually to be found on a train. Member of Co-op Culture and Co-operantics. Some blurb here: https://culture.coop/about/members/nathan-brown/
Austen Cordasco Thu 19 Apr 2018 9:55AM
Hi, I'm Austen. There is a bit about me here: http://www.can.coop/index.php/about-us/2013-11-20-17-40-57. I have been doing co-operative development since 2005 and have been involved with co-ops since the 80s. I instigated and co-authored the discussion paper that gave rise to this initiative.
Andrew Woodcock Thu 19 Apr 2018 9:00AM
Hi, I'm Andy, been involved in co-ops since the late 90's, started in housing and now do lots of co-op development work. Also involved with @marksimmonds and @nathanbrown in Co-op Culture a consortium of co-op development workers. Main interest is finance and have been heavily involved in Radical Routes and the management of its loan fund, very interested in replicating this.
Mark Simmonds (Co-op Culture) Thu 19 Apr 2018 8:37AM
Welcome to recent arrivals. If you haven't already, please can you post a short introduction to yourself in this thread, so we can all see who is in the room. @andrewwoodcock @nathanbrown @austencordascocan @bill30 @bob857 @cathcornerstone @garethnash @iansnaith @jobird @jowhite @jonnygordonfarleig @patconaty @richardbarbrook @russellsmith1 @shaunfensom @simoncarter
Fabian Tompsett Sat 7 Apr 2018 7:52AM
Hi, I am another veteran of the London radical print co-op scene having worked at Rye Express, Little @ and Union Place 1979-1994. I was also a member of the video co-op Despite TV 1995-9 and Salamander Press (London) 1990-2014. I went to the University of East London and gained a BA in Social Enterprise (2013) and MSc in ICT and Development (2015). For my dissertation I looked at the work of Otto Neurath (1882-1945) in terms of laying the grounds for subsequent information theory in the context of his economical work predictive of the impact of technology as regards unemployment and the development of a non-monetary economy in kind.
I have experience in community development having worked as a Tenant Participation Officer and in user participation for mental health services. I am interested in co-ops as learning organisations and can contribute in terms of how we get community engagement for the platform co-op.
Chris Croome (Webarchitects Co-operative) Fri 6 Apr 2018 6:51PM
A belated Hi from me (I had Loomio authentication problems), I'm from Webarchitects and we might be able to help with some web hosting for this project if it is needed.
Graham Tue 27 Mar 2018 9:08AM
I've been working in, with and for cooperatives since the mid 1980s. Co-founded a marketing services worker co-op in Southampton in '87 and went on to work in it for about 12 years. Then a spell at ICOM, then Cooperative Union/Cooperatives UK where I managed the rebranding and did membership work and organised Congress. Then left and set up MC3 as a small cooperative partnership doing digital work mainly around use of Drupal and CiviCRM for cooperatives and others. Led a community buyout of my local greengrocers, went to live in Catalunya for a few years. Now in the Pennines plotting the next wave. Always been a big fan of the potential of the mix of digital and cooperation.
Mark Simmonds (Co-op Culture) Mon 26 Mar 2018 3:39PM
Just realised that I've yet to do this introduction and there are people in the group I don't know too well. This project is something we've been talking about and skirting for years. As the tools we need to create more than a fund are just lying there to use, it now seems like the time to actually do something has arrived.
I'm prepared to devote significant time to this in making things work in the back-office of the early platform - Wizard of Oz style. I'm also prepared to stand up and talk about it enthusiastically.
If you want to know more about me: https://culture.coop/about/members/services/
Josef Davies-Coates Thu 8 Mar 2018 4:42PM
This is me https://josef.is and I wrote this which is relevant https://uniteddiversity.coop/2017/09/27/what-if-co-operatives-uk-had-70-million-a-year/
Ian Snaith · Thu 19 Apr 2018 2:11PM
I write, research and engage in legal consultancy work around co-operatives. I've been doing that since the mid-1980's. I'm interested in this but am not sure how much I could help.