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
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Radical Routes
Co-ops for grassroots control and social change
www.radicalroutes.org.uk
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Art, media, design
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Community
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Music and Alternative Culture
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Direct Action
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Campaigning
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Taking control of work
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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