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Welcome

Last Updated: Tuesday, 18 September 2018 07:35

Radical Routes is a network of radical co-ops whose members are committed to working for positive social change. The network is made up mainly of housing co-ops of various sizes (none with more than 17 members), a few workers co-ops and a couple of social centres.

Four times a year, the member and associate member co-ops get together at "gatherings". These weekend events have a social function, but are also the places at which all important decisions are taken. They are open meetings and anyone is welcome to attend. The following are typical items that appear on the agenda at these gatherings.

  • It may be that we have to assess an application to join by a co-op;
  • An existing member may want to apply for a loan or ask for a loan repayment holiday if they have financial trouble;
  • A new piece of housing law may be discussed as different co-ops share experience of dealing with their local councils. We often discuss arguments that have worked in bringing about favourable outcomes for our co-ops;
  • Areas of the Radical Routes policy document may be reviewed;
  • Possible new services that we can offer our members may be discussed;
  • Co-ops wishing to join at the next gathering give presentations;
  • Work carried out by member co-ops is reported, and the next quarter's work is shared out around the network.

In addition there is a parallel programme of introductory workshops for new groups and individuals at every gathering.

 

The next gatherings are:

 

  • Autumn gathering: 16-18 November 2018, Manchester
  • Winter gathering: 15-17 February 2019, venue tbc 

 

 

Ethical Investment

Radical Routes is able to make loans to member co-ops due to our ethical investment arm, Rootstock. Radical Routes made its first loan in 1991, and since then has lent out over £573 000 to member co-ops without any bad debts from loans. Rootstock enables people to invest in grassroots co-operative projects while building on the unique track record of Radical Routes.

Mutual Aid

Radical Routes is a form of structured mutual aid. In other words, it is based on people helping each other in organised ways. Radical Routes is about people taking control of their own housing, work, education and leisure activities. People set up co-ops to manage these activities themselves, removing the need for managers, owners, bosses or landlords.

Setting up a successful co-op isn't always easy, but by joining Radical Routes, co-ops can benefit from the experience of others who have done it before.

Radical Routes Enquiries

For more information look at the list of Radical Routes members or contact our enquiries point:

Radical Routes Enquiries
c/o Cornerstone Resource Centre
16 Sholebroke Avenue
LEEDS   LS7 3HB
0845 330 4510 or

01422 842327


This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Please send updates relating to this website to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News

  • Fireside in Sheffield has space

    Fireside Housing Co-op has some space coming up. This space would suit a small family (1 parent & 1 child) or a single person. Our rent is £53/week, plus bills and a contribution to our income-sharing pot (which pays insurance, water rates & internet costs).

     

    At present we have 12 adults all busy doing their own thing. 2 adults will be moving out, leaving one large and one small room. Although there's no children here, there are children living on the street, and we would love to have a child again. (The most recent children grew into adults and stayed!) Our outside interests range from gardening to music to cycling to campaign work.

     

    If you are interested in living with us, please get in contact so that we can invite you to come & visit and start the process of getting to know each other.

     

  • Dragonfly is looking for members

    Dragonfly housing coop in Oxford is looking for a new housemate! Here is a bit of info about us. If you are interested, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your answers to the questions below by the 7th of September.

     

    If you sound the right fit for the house, we will then invite you to come meet us. Please forward to anyone who might be interested!

     

    About the co-op:

    Dragonfly is a housing co-op that has been going for over 17 years. It is part of the network of housing co-ops Radical Routes. The housing co-op was started for and continues to be a house and centre for people involved in activism and organising around environmental and social justice issues.

     

    The house has 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an open-plan living room and kitchen.. It has a back garden with fruit trees and bushes, a greenhouse, tool shed, sauna and fire pit. The house backs on to Florence Park and is on a sociable street (Campbell Road) - we have a good relationship with lots of our neighbours.

     

    We are a friendly and sociable house. We cook and eat communally and this is an important part of communal life for us. Shared meals are vegan and although people can prepare vegetarian food for themselves we agree not to have meat in the house. We get a weekly veg box delivered and get bulk whole-food orders from an ethical supplier. We have a system to take it in turns to cook and wash up and we also share the cleaning of the house.

     

    We have monthly house meetings where we discuss any issues that arise and decide maintenance and development tasks. We are responsible as a house for any maintenance, painting, fixing etc. At least one member of the house will attend the quarterly Radical Routes network gathering around the country. We occasionally have house or bonfire parties or people around for dinner or to use the sauna. We also often host meetings and have people from other Radical Routes co-ops or activist networks staying on the sofa.

     

    We are really looking for people who are interested in being part of our community for the medium to long term (over a year). We would consider couples if the situation was right, so please get in touch!

     

    About us: When our current housemates move out there will be 4 remaining members (Henry, Alice, Chris and Chris). We range from the ages of 22 - 30. We are all involved in working, volunteering or campaigning around environmental and social justice issues and this is a big part of the ethos of the house.

     

    Rent costs are £300 p/month and we pay a set amount of £65 per month for all bills, council tax and our veg box/food order.

     

    Questions:

    1) Dragonfly is a housing co-op that houses people involved in social change work. Please tell us about your involvement in activism or other social change work?

    2) As a Radical Routes housing co-op, residents need to be able to commit to attending a minimum of one of the Radical Routes weekend gatherings per year and potentially joining a Radical Routes working group if you were interested in that (at least one of us needs to be in an RR working group). Please tell us what you think about this and how it would work for you.

    3) We share food and eat communally and take it in turns to cook for each other and wash-up after the meal (each person usually doing at least one evening a week). We also do around 30 minutes of cleaning in communal areas each week. We have a house meeting every month to discuss and make decisions about the house, schedule/decide on maintenance tasks, and review items for the Radical Roots Gatherings. Please tell us what you think about this and how it would work for you..

    4) We as the residents are collectively responsible for the up keep of the use and garden and you need to have a willingness to get involved with house maintenance jobs, how do you feel about this and do you have any particular skills or experience you can bring around this?

    5) Do you have pets?

    7) Do you have any support or access needs, habits or routines that you think may have an impact on people you live with (please include information on current or recent addiction issues such as drugs, alcohol or gambling).

    8) Other people in our house: We are a friendly house and have occasional people staying over on the sofa perhaps once or twice a month. People's partners sometimes stay for two or three nights a week. We sometimes hold meetings about local community work or activist groups in the living room. We sometimes have small gatherings of friends over and the odd party. Are you comfortable

    about what we have outlined here?

    9) If you were offered the room, when would you be looking to move in and how long are you looking to stay for?

     

  • Radical Route's Privacy Notice now avaialble in the members area

    You can now download Radical Route's GDPR compliant privacy notice about what data we collect on you, why we collect that data, how we use it and your rights to that data.

     

    For a fascinating read please visit http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/downloads/key-documents.html in the members area, go on you know you want to.

     

  • Thank you to Coops North West

    We were saddened to hear that Coops North West is winding down its activities, but we are very grateful for their donation of a share of their assets to Radical Routes.  Where possible, we will use these funds to assist co-operation in the North West region.

     

  • Vacancies at Neds Housing Co-op, Nottingham

    We will have a couple of rooms available at Neds Housing Co-op (Nottingham) from June/July so are starting the hunt for new members. If you are interested then drop us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we can send over some more information about our wonderful co-op. 

     

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