A Community Interest Group
Frequently Asked Questions
Procedure for joining :
We invite you to come and see the co-op and meet everyone. You ask what you need
to know and we ask what we need to know. The co-op has a meeting where we decide
our interest. If we and you are interested, we meet again. Then we finally decide
if we want to be in this project together. If we do, you will be offered trial membership
of 6 months. If after 6 months we still want to be in this project together, you
will be offered full membership.
What is required of a co-op member?
Members need to be committed to our social and ethical vision; willing to take a proper share in the responsibilities of running the co-op, including once they are full members serving as an officer on the committee (e.g. chair, secretary, treasurer); willing to take part in common work (maintaining the garden, cleaning etc.), willing to attend monthly meetings (which normally includes a shared meal).
A few years ago we explored our values and passions and collectively came up with a Vision Statement for our Co-op which you can read here
What we need to know about you
Why would you choose to live in a co-operative? Are you willing to attend a monthly
co-op meeting (at the moment they are on a Saturday or Sunday)? What do you think
about our Vision Statement?
How would you contribute to co-op life? Would your lifestyle allow you to fully participate
in the co-op?
Your financial circumstances Would you consider investing in loan shares to the co-op
(interest payable)? Reference from your previous landlord.
Practicalities about living together
We invite you to come and see the co-op and meet everyone. You ask what you need
to know and we ask what we need to know. The co-op has a meeting where we decide
our interest. If we and you are interested, we meet again. Then we finally decide
if we want to be in this project together. If we do, you will be offered trial membership
of 6 months. If after 6 months we still want to be in this project together, you
will be offered full membership.
Social Advantages of being a co-op
Working together has meant we have got to know each other in ways that normal neighbours
often don’t so we have a sense of community. The opportunity to take part in the
decision making and to practise resolving conflict in creative and self-responsible
ways. Occasional shared events and outings, to exhibitions, picnics etc, are a real
bonus.
Financial advantages of being a co-op.
The most striking one is that we pay Council Tax on the house as a single residence,
not separately-rated flats. We also run a consumer co-op, buying in organic/fair-trade
foods and household supplies at wholesale rates. Other discounts may be possible.
Disadvantages of being a co-op
It does involve accepting responsibility, and doing a share of the work, physical
and administrative: although this is allocated as far as possible to match people's
inclinations and capacities. It involves learning how to live as a community rather
than isolated individuals - which may also be classed as an advantage - but does
involve practising trust and sacrificing a tiny amount of the personal control favoured
by the prevailing culture.
Ecological / ethical issues
We do our best to secure our supplies and services in an environmentally responsible
manner; and when buying them do so where possible from other co-ops or suppliers
who will support the co-op financially or in other ways. A majority of us now use
the Phone Co-op for these reasons, gaining useful Affinity Commission. We have also
tied ourselves to using ethical/environmental investments for any savings or deposits
that the cooperative makes.
Finances
Each unit has an agreed rent, and these increase in line with inflation yearly (currently
2.5%). Rent is payable monthly, by Standing Order to the co-op's bank, together with
a contribution for Council Tax and Water Rates (currently £26.50 per head) plus a
monthly £11 to the Sinking Fund (for garden expenses and minor repairs and improvements
we all decide upon). A deposit of one month's rent is also required. In 2010 we applied
for and received a grant from the Co-op Enterprise Hub which enabled us to work together
with the CDA (Co-operative Development Agency) to help us make the transition from
individuals renting from Tony and Randi to a situation where the Co-op is the tenant.
This was quite pioneering work, and we are now well on our way. We have drafted and
adopted new tenancy agreements such that individual members now rent from the Co-op
and the Co-op rents from Tony and Randi