Students for Cooperation A democratic federation of student co-ops - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Students for Cooperation A democratic federation of student co-ops organising for social change, through representing and supporting emerging student co-ops across the UK. Est. 2013 www.students.coop

Emerging co-ops Birmingham Student Housing Co-operative ● 805 Pershore Road March 2013 “held in common since June 2014”

Emerging co-ops Birmingham Student Housing Co- ● operative – 805 Pershore Road “held in common since June 2014” Edinburgh Student Housing Co- ● operative – 106 bed former student halls Sheffield Student Housing Co- ● operative Aberdeen, Nottingham, Norwich ● (UEA), Bradford,Sussex, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, London, Warwick sshc.sheffield.coop

Emerging co-ops Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative 106 bed former student halls Also interest & some activity in Aberdeen, Nottingham, Norwich (UEA), ● Bradford, Sussex, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, London, Warwick...

Why co-operation? “Co-operatives are good for students not just because they give access to more affordable housing, food or transport but because they create spaces in which students can experiment with ideas.” Sean Farmelo, SfC coordinator “Co-operation has always flourished where the traditional business models have got out of control, where consumers of a service have found themselves with little choice but to sort out a solution for themselves.” Urbed report, 2005

What does a SHC look like? ● Within easy distance of university ● Generous communal areas & shared laundry ● Transparent membership process ● Cheaper rent than local private options ● Systems for shared work in the flat/house & across the co-operative ● Turnover averages 2-4 years (max 7)

Why SfC? Although not a new idea in the ● UK, SHCs have not lived up to potential for students – The 1970s co-ops revival – 2005 Urbed / NUS report Help address challenges facing ● SHCs – Access to finance – High member turnover / variable member engagement – Grassroots mechanism for student-led support

Students for Cooperation aims to: Website Support the establishment of new student co-ops . ● Help existing student cooperatives to prosper . ● Loomio Encourage active co-operation between student ● Conferences co-ops. Promote the student co-operative movement to Meetings ● the wider co-op movement and the world. Attend festivals Organise and promote participatory education ● through knowledge and skills sharing events, Attend courses informative resources, training and workshops. Campaigns Secure finance for student cooperatives to further ● take democratic control of resources through co- Network & operation. engage in the Support like-minded projects and campaigns ● co-operative which align with at least some of the principles and movement values of Students for Cooperation.

How? ● A lot of hard work from students involved, often voluntary ● Principle 6: “co-operation amongst co-operatives” ● NASCO – largest SHC provider in the world, est. 1968 ● Co-op development services, e.g. CBC, BCHS ● Radical Routes ● Co-operative Enterprise Hub ● Co-operative Education Trust Scotland ● Phone Co-op

So what? ● 2.3m students in HE (2013/14) ● Legacy of “co-operativism” ● Radical social change….?

Engaging in dialogue of resistance – led by young people Engaging in wider campaigns (& Connecting to the wider solution-building!) youth co-operative movement

“We are seeds”