Newport residents invited to participate in Co-operative Housing survey

The Seren Group, which includes Charter Housing, is considering developing co-operative housing on part of the old Pirelli Factory site, just off Corporation Road in Maindee. Before the group moves forward with this idea, it needs to find out whether Newport residents would be interested in living in co-operative housing. Seren is working with the Wales Co-operative Centre and the Chartered Institute of Housing to identify whether there is any demand for this form of housing in the City.

What is co-operative housing?

Co-operative housing is a form of housing where members (either tenants or owners) democratically control and manage their homes and play an active role in the life of the communities they live in. Co-operative housing is very common in other parts of Europe. There are a number of different types of co-operative housing, either for rent or for sale but they have one fundamental thing in common: they put democracy and community ownership at the heart of housing.

Some of the advantages of co-operative housing are:-

• An affordable form of home ownership

• A democratic and safe community

• Long term financing and security

• Flexible to meet occupiers needs

• Potential of shared benefits of communal energy

What is the plan for co-operative housing in Newport?

Seren’s plan for the old Pirelli site is to create a community of around 200 homes which will be a mix of homes for rent and to buy. The vision is of an ‘urban village’; bringing the community benefits of village life to the heart of the City. Seren would like to include an area of co-operative housing in this development, if there are enough people interested.

Why are we reaching out to you and what should you do next?

We are trying to find out whether you are interested in knowing more about the development of the Pirelli site and whether you are interested in being a part of the co-operative Seren wants to support on the site.

If you are interested in finding out more, please go online using this web address

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/co-operativehousinginnewport.

You’ll be asked to answer a few questions about yourself, your family, your current housing situation and to provide your contact details.

We will then write to you with more information about co-operative housing and an invitation to attend an event to tell you more about Seren’s plan and the types of co-operative housing that may be possible.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Dave Palmer from the Wales Co-operative Centre on 029 2055 6169.

Thank you.

Centre staff have the key to housing challenges at TAI 2013

This week sees Wales’ ‘premier housing conference and exhibition’ swing into town.

Held across Cardiff City Hall and the nearby Hilton Hotel, TAI 2013 will look at current challenges in the Welsh housing sector as well as future opportunities.

Over three days – Tuesday to Thursday – a number of keynote addresses and workshops will be held, with the Wales Co-operative Centre among the organisations represented. 

On Wednesday, our Co-operative Housing Project Manager Dave Palmer will be running a workshop that will look into this emerging theme. Dave will provide an outline of the eight ‘pioneer’ co-operative housing projects across Wales, along with details of research that is being carried out into the topic and information on three ‘focus’ projects in Cardiff, Newport and Llanelli.

On the same day, Jocelle Lovell – Project Manager of our Tackling Homelessness through Financial Inclusion project – will be involved in a session that will look at the potential impact of the forthcoming Welfare Reforms and what they mean from a financial inclusion and social housing perspective.

We will also have staff on an exhibition stand at the event (Hall B, stand 42), on all three days, promoting the work of the Centre, including the recently launched Money Made Clear Wales website. If you’re attending the event, find out how the Wales Co-operative Centre is working with the housing sector in Wales and how we can support you and your organisation, to lay the foundations for future success, across the projects that we run.

And the winners are…

North Wales Social Enterprises scoop the 2012 Social Enterprise Awards Wales

Three North Wales social enterprises have won categories in this years Social Enterprise Wales Awards which took place today (Friday 19^th October) at the Scala Cinema and Arts Centre in Prestatyn.

The awards were hosted by Wales Co-operative Centre and Wales Social Enterprise Coalition and was sponsored by not for profit internet registry company Nominet.

The full list of winners reads as follows:

Kelly Davies, Managing Director, Viability, Conwy; winner of the Social Enterprise Leader of the Year award with Wales  Co-operative Centre Chief Executive Derek Walker

Social Enterprise Leader of the Year 

Kelly Davies of Vi-ability

Kelly Davies has been Managing Director of Vi-ability for nearly three years. Kelly has succeeded in positioning Vi-ability as one of the leading personal development/employment facing sport industry programmes in UK and Europe for socially disadvantaged participants It produces consistently positive outcomes in relation to engagement, retention and progression.

Kelly was delighted to win the award, “I’m overwhelmed! I really didn’t expect to win after our success in these Awards last year. It shows that we haven’t stood still and we’re still doing something right!”

Wales Co-operative Centre Chief Executive Derek Walker, with Mac McCarthy and Barry Roberts from the North Wales Credit Union, Social Enterprise Start Up of the Year Winner

Social Enterprise  Start up of the Year – North Wales Credit Union

North Wales Credit Union is a financial co-operative which provides a wide range of ethical financial services across North Wales. Regulated by the Financial Services Authority, it is the fourth largest financial mutual in Wales. It was formed in January 2011 through the merger of five credit unions. Since then it has been  looked to as a model of excellence by credit unions and policymakers from across the UK.

Mac McCarthym from the North Wales Credit Union, commented, ”Wow! From our persepective, this award is fantastic. Creating North Wales Credit Union took 18 months of really hard work by both staff and volunteers, and we’re accepting this Award on their behalf.”

Social Enterprise Supporter of the Year – St Illtyd’s Communities First Partnership

Anna Chard, St Illtyds Communities First Partnership, Abertillery, Social Enterprise Supporter of the Year Winner, Wales Co-operative Centre Operations Director Nia Wright Morgan and Wales Co-operative Centre Chief Executive Derek Walker

St Illtyds Communities First is part of a Welsh Government anti-poverty campaign which has been established for 10 years.  The team consists of 5 individuals who are dedicated to supporting and encouraging initiatives that make positive changes to the social economy. They work in Llanhilleth Institute supporting communities from Brynithel, Swffryd, Aberbeeg and Llanhilleth. St Illtyd’s Communities First has been responsible for starting up and supporting 3 social enterprises and creating 16 jobs in a socially deprived area of Wales.

Anna Chard from St Illtyd’s Communities First Partnership stated, ”Its a real honour to accept this Award on behalf of the Communities First Partnership Board, the staff team and the social enterprises we support.”

Social Enterprise Supporter of the Year – Special Mention

The City & County of Swansea, Housing Renewals & Adaptations Department was singled out for a special mention as an example of a Local Authority who have made a major contribution to supporting the development of a social enterprise. City & County of Swansea has provided support and been available to reflect, counsel and steer changes to other organisations that resulted in the development of social enterprises such as Swansea Care & Repair Services.

Sharon Jones, Chief Executive , Crest Co-operative ,Llandudno Junction, Social Enterprise of the Year Winner with Wales Co-operative Centre Operations Director Nia Wright Morgan

Social Enterprise of the Year – Crest Co-operative

Crest Co-operative operates a number of recycling enterprises including , a food poverty project that distributes in-date food from food manufacturers to the homeless and vulnerable across North Wales; a textile recycling operation throughout Conwy County Borough Council; and finally Crest Co-operative work with North Wales housing associations to clear empty properties and save kitchens/bathrooms from landfill. Crest Co-operative’s work primarily focuses on social and environmental purposes, working to promote social inclusion and at the same time work to save materials and food from landfill. Sharon Jones from Crest Co-operative recieved the award,  ”I’m speechless. This is a real surprise and its great to win such as prestigious award.”

Wales Co-operative Centre Chief Executive Derek Walker commented, “The quality of nominations this year demonstrated not only the breadth and versatility of the sector but the importance the sector has to communities across Wales. The judges this year had a tough task deciding between a number of very dedicated people and a number of extremely deserving nominees. The winners chosen demonstrate an impressive  commitment to their area of expertise and a level of service that is outstanding. We congratulate Crest Co-operative, St Illtyd’s Communities First Partnership, North Wales Credit Union and Kelly Davies and all of the other excellent social enterprises who were shortlisted.”

Not for profit Internet registry company Nominet sponsoredthe Social Enterprise Awards Wales 2012. Nominet run one of the world’s largest Internet registries and manage over ten million domain names. They are entrusted with the safe, stable and secure management of the .uk Internet name space and recently submitted applications for the new .cymru and .wales top level domains. For more information visit www.nominet.org.uk

Building a better way to live

When a leading housing developer embarked on a mission to build Scotland’s first sustainable village, a social enterprise model offered the best opportunity to combine innovation, partnership and social purpose. Claire McBain reports

In 2008 Wayne Hemingway, one of British’s best-known designers, reinvigorated the centre of Gateshead in Newcastle, transforming redundant buildings into a thriving business district. He believes it takes people to build solid housing and successful communities. Bricks and mortar come later. Hemingway predicts that house purchases will no longer be based on investment potential.  Instead, people will seek homes in communities in which they want to lay down roots.

Kincluny Development Trust is taking Hemingway’s vision north, with plans to build Scotland’s first sustainable village. Inspired by the north-east housing shortage, intricate new technologies and a clear passion for social purpose, the development trust has proposed a new village in the heart of Aberdeenshire’s Royal Deeside. Expected to be the country’s largest sustainable construction project, the village will blend social enterprise principles and practices with 32 years of building expertise to harness the most up-to-date technologies and produce comfortable, desirable, affordable properties across the entire housing spectrum.

The development trust, a social enterprise incorporated as a limited company by guarantee, was set up to complement the growth of the village. It was initiated by CHAP Homes, a well-established north-east housing developer.

Bill Burr, managing director at CHAP Homes, says he then brought on board Aberdeen Foyer, who operate a portfolio of successful social enterprises. “It was clear that the village’s resources would need to be managed. I had heard about social enterprises and approached Aberdeen Foyer who suggested the development trust model.”

Leona McDermid, commercial director at Aberdeen Foyer, then produced a feasibility study on how the development trust might work. “Since then, we have recruited many local ambassadors,” says Leona.  “Eventually, the development trust will be made up of property owners, developers, local authorities and businesses. Each householder and business will be a stakeholder through a formal ‘share’ agreement in the development trust.”

Leona has also engaged a working group made up of local people and businesses, housing associations, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Foyer and CHAP Homes.

“This group is key to gaining momentum,” explains Bill. “The physical place still has to be built but the foundations of the community are well underway. The working group has a clear, shared vision of what the village will look like and what it could be like to live there. It’s truly inspiring.

Leona adds that the development trust is already writing the social history of the village by thinking through how it can develop and manage shared resources for the benefit of the community that will one day arrive. “We’re setting the culture of the place, embedding sustainability and creating the potential for outstanding social impact.”

This vision has become the Kincluny mission, which is about much more than having objectives.  Social purpose is at the heart of Kincluny. The development trust business model means that the village will be financially stable with the micro economy ‘locked in’ so that the community-owned social enterprise can unlock and build social capital for its people.

More than a parish council or committee, Kincluny will turn sustainability principles from rhetoric in a glossy brochure to a day-to-day community reality. CHAP will initially invest £400m towards land, building work and amenities, such as a school, shops and renewable energy. But the village will take responsibility for managing its own income and amenities, promoting community life and securing future development. This is real sustainability.

Kincluny will enhance local amenities, not only for the new village but for surrounding communities too. A primary school and leisure facilities will be developed. Employment and entrepreneurial opportunities will be created. Approximately 150 construction jobs will be generated each year over a ten year period and permanent employment will be available in the community itself. Training will be available in modern sustainable construction techniques and new technology as the build develops. The village will incorporate low cost workspace for start-up local businesses. Tangible revenue will be generated from business unit rentals, allotments and renewable energy sources. All profits generated through Kincluny Development Trust will be reinvested in the village to sustain and develop the village according to need. This, coupled with CHAP’s donation of £1,000 from the sale of each of the 1,500 properties, will provide a solid, long-term income for the development trust.

With prices ranging from approximately £90,000 to £500,000, this genuine community housing development aims to be truly open to all. Kincluny promises at least 30% of the mixed tenure homes will be affordable to those on low incomes, which is particularly attractive due to rural issues and high levels of homelessness.

The organisations involved in leading the development of Kincluny see this as an opportunity to pioneer how housing is developed, says Leona. “You can build a village or a town with the best designs in the world but it’s people who make it a desirable place to live and work. Our experiences of operating social enterprises and working with young people have now given us the opportunity to influence the development of a new community. For us, the most exciting aspects are the creation of affordable housing for our young people and the new jobs that will be created, not just around the creation but also the upkeep of the village.”

Kincluny will be built on a former quarry, a brownfield site, and will designed to the highest specification in terms of renewable energy, conservation and environmental technologies. For Bill, the timing of the development was ideal given that the quarry site is nearing the end of its operational use. “To be able to develop the quarry as a catalyst for sustainable design was an exciting option for us and, unlike other developers, we are promising a carbon neutral target. But most of all, it’s the chance to develop much needed mixed tenure housing in the north-east. I hope other developers will follow suit – Kincluny could be very replicable.”

There is no doubt that Kincluny challenges how new developments are thought through. “It has a vision for community involvement that goes way beyond the obligatory public consultations,” adds Bill.  “The project has the potential to alter the perception of creating and managing community life.”

Leona agrees, maintaining that social enterprise has paved the way for Kincluny to pioneer a new era of housing developments:  “I think it has the potential to influence how new communities in particular are thought through and managed. Normally, development trusts start because there is an issue. This development trust has started because it values the social capital of the community just as much as the bricks and mortar and infrastructure.”

Facts and figures:

Who is involved? CHAP Homes and Aberdeen Foyer.

What will be built? 1,500 mixed tenure homes, business and amenities.

Where did inspiration come from? Other development trusts and the Garden City Movement.

What is the investment? £400m from CHAP Homes to go into land, building work and amenities, such as a school, shops and renewable energy. CHAP will also donate £1,000 from the sale of each property.

Source: Social Enterprise Live