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

Students for Cooperation

www.students.coop

A democratic federation of student co-ops organising for social change, through representing and supporting emerging student co-ops across the UK.

• Est. 2013

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-
• perative – 805 Pershore Road “held

in common since June 2014”

• Edinburgh Student Housing Co-
• perative – 106 bed former student

halls

• Sheffield Student Housing Co-
• perative
• 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-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 “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

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:

• Support the establishment of new student co-ops.
• Help existing student cooperatives to prosper.
• Encourage active co-operation between student

co-ops.

• Promote the student co-operative movement to

the wider co-op movement and the world.

• Organise and promote participatory education

through knowledge and skills sharing events, informative resources, training and workshops.

• Secure finance for student cooperatives to further

take democratic control of resources through co-

• peration.
• Support like-minded projects and campaigns

which align with at least some of the principles and values of Students for Cooperation. Website Loomio Conferences Meetings Attend festivals Attend courses Campaigns Network & engage in the co-operative movement

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….?

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

“We are seeds”