Radical Routes

Radical Routes is a UK-based secondary co-operative of housing co-ops, worker co-ops, and social centres committed to social change.[3] The organisation supports new and established co-ops through loan finance, training workshops, practical support, and national gatherings.[4]

Radical Routes
FormationIncorporated 1 April 1992 (1992-04-01)[1]
TypeSecondary co-operative
Legal statusRegistered Society
PurposeSocial change
ServicesCo-operative development, finance, training, gatherings
Membership
40 housing co-ops, worker co-ops, and social centres[2]
Main organ
Quarterly Gathering of Members
Websiteradicalroutes.org.uk
Radical Routes member Nutclough Housing Co-operative in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

History

Radical Routes emerged in 1986 from a network of people in London and Hull who wanted to develop workers' co-operatives.[5] The network agreed it's common aims and adopted the name Radical Routes in 1988, and became incorporated as Radical Routes Limited in 1992.[6] In 1998 Rootstock Limited was incorporated as an investment scheme supporting Radical Routes co-operatives.[7] The original house in Hockley was set up as the 'New Education Housing Co-op'.[8]

According to Rootstock, between 1991 and 2012 Radical Routes made over sixty loans to member co-ops – totaling over £1m – with no co-operatives defaulting on loan payments.[9] These loans have typically been used by member housing co-ops, in addition to finance from traditional lenders, to buy property.[10]

Work

Radical Routes provides small loans (up to about £50,000) to member co-operatives. Decisions on making loans are made collectively by other member co-operatives, this has been described as "peer-group loan appraisal".[11]

Radical Routes publishes booklets on subjects such as How to set up a Housing Co-operative and How to set up a Worker Co-operative.[12]

With Cooperatives UK they launched proposals for an independent co-operative regulator after the government announced that it would be abolishing the FSA. Previously the FSA had regulated co-operatives, which were registered as industrial and provident societies.

Radical Routes is developing a ‘co-op cluster’ model for co-op housing with groups of housing co-ops combining their assets to buy new properties outright, eliminating mortgage interest.[13]

Membership

Member co-operatives are expected to commit to a share of Radical Routes' workload as volunteers, and work toward radical social change.[14][15]

The organisation has about 40 members, consisting primarily of small housing co-ops, alongside some worker co-ops and social centres. The organisation also has a number of supporting associates.[16]

Housing co-operatives

Worker co-operatives

Social centres

Affiliations

Radical Routes is a affiliated to a social investment scheme called Rootstock, through which Radical Routes co-operatives can secure finance.

Radical Routes is a member of Co-operatives UK.

References
  1. "Mutuals Public Register: Radical Routes Limited". mutuals.fca.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  2. "Radical Routes - List of Members & Associates". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  3. "Radical Routes - Radical Routes - A network of Housing Co-ops, Workers Co-ops and Social Centres". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  4. "Radical Routes - Aims & Principles". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  5. Gosling, Paul (18 July 1993). "Fund sells a stake in radical ventures: Paul Gosling reports on schemes to provide low-interest loans for alternative businesses at home and abroad". The Independent. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  6. "Radical Routes Social Accounts 2013" (PDF). Social Audit Network. 2013. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  7. "Radical Routes". www.rootstock.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  8. Albery, Nicholas (1992). The Book of Visions: An Encyclopaedia of Social Innovations. Virgin. ISBN 9780863696015. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  9. "Radical Routes Loans". www.rootstock.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  10. "Housing coops: a landlord you can trust". The Bristol Cable. 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  11. Field, Stuart (April 2015). "Financial models for Community Development Finance Institutions in the UK" (PDF). ISB Paper Series. Institute for Social Banking. 15: 54.
  12. "Radical Routes - Publications & Resources". radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  13. Kidd, Marie-Claire (16 June 2015). "Radical Routes Plans to Free Housing Co-ops from Mortgage Trap". The News Coop. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  14. Nicholson, Patrick (November 2007). "Radical Routes". peacenews.info. Peace News. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  15. Rai, Milan; Johns, Emily (December 2014). "Radical Routes and radical social change". peacenews.info. Peace News. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  16. "Radical Routes - List of Members & Associates". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  17. "151 Housing Co-operative | Co-operatives UK". www.uk.coop. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  18. "Radical Routes - Catfish". radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  19. "Clydeside Housing Co-operative | Co-operatives UK". www.uk.coop. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  20. "Radical Routes - Dragonfly". radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  21. "Radical Routes - Equinox". radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  22. "Radical Routes - Hive, The". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  23. "Radical Routes - Neds". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  24. "Radical Routes - Nutclough (aka Zion)". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  25. "Radical Routes - Out of Town". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  26. "Radical Routes - Walden Pond". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  27. "Wild Peak Housing Co-op | Veggies". 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  28. "Radical Routes - Xanadu". www.radicalroutes.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  29. Bibby, Andrew (22 August 2012). "The new wave of interest in workers' co-operatives". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  30. Desiderio, Elise (December 2008). "Footprints for change". peacenews.info. Peace News. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  31. Rai, Milan; Johns, Emily (July 2012). "Editorial: Collective ownership". peacenews.info. Peace News. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
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