News Archive
Joint National Tenant Scrutiny Committee to hold Tenant Services Authority to account
[28-04-2010] Following publication of the Tenant Services Authority's regulatory standards, the four national tenant organisations are to set up a joint independent national tenant scrutiny committee. The committee will hold the TSA and other Government bodies to account for their part in ensuring the delivery of better services in the social housing sector, comprehensive empowerment opportunities and improved quality of life for tenants. It aims to work in partnership with the newly formed National Tenant Voice.
Joint News Release, April 2010
(MS Word document, 251 Kb)
Greener Together - The Co-operative Way
[21-04-2010] The CCH is working in partnership with Co-operatives UK and the Plunkett Foundation to deliver the Greener Together project. Join us to demonstrate how, by making small changes, together we can make a significant impact on climate change. [More information]
CCH 17th Annual Conference 2010
" The Good, The Bad And The Housing Co-op Sector! "
Friday 16 July - Sunday 18 July 2010, University of Birmingham
[15-04-2010] This year's CCH conference will be the key arena to discuss this fast changing world. It has been designed to help co-ops through the accreditation and regulation maze, alongside the usual interesting stories, workshops, opportunities for networking and the every popular CCH quiz! [More information]
The CCH accreditation framework for housing co-operatives
[15-04-2010] The Confederation of Co-operative Housing has developed accreditation processes to strengthen standards in housing co-ops. This accreditation system is aimed at organisations that provide general management services on an ongoing basis to housing co-ops.
![[PDF icon]](/pics/pdf.gif "Download this file"){kind=small}
The CCH Accreditation Framework for Housing Co-operatives
(PDF document, 7175 Kb)
The CCH Accreditation Framework for Service Provision to Housing Co-operatives
(PDF document, 122 Kb)
Next CCH meeting
[26-01-2010] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place in Watford on Saturday 6th March 2010. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
CCH Newsletter
[26-01-2010] The CCH Winter 2009 Bulletin is out and available as download.
Bringing Democracy Home
The independent Commission on Co-operative and Mutual Housing launched its report Bringing Democracy Home on 24th November 2009 in Parliament at an event sponsored by the Co-operative Bank. With the support of housing minister John Healey MP, who officially launched the report, and Grant Shapps MP and Sarah Teather MP - the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Housing Spokespeople, the Commission's report calls for opportunities to live in co-operative and mutual housing to be available for all towns, villages and communities by 2030.
Nic Bliss, CCH Chair, a CCMH Commissioner, and the report's editor said that this report could be the most significant event in co-operative housing since the CCH set up in 1994. It has been hard work producing the report, not least gathering many contributions from many housing co-op members across the country, to whom we give heartfelt thanks - but we hope that this report will lead to a lot more work to deliver on the recommendations in the report to build the co-operative and mutual housing sector
.
Pictures from the launch on 24 November 2009
Executive Summary
(PDF document, 2575 Kb)
Full Report
(PDF document, 5666 Kb)
Next CCH meeting
[29-11-2009] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place in Birmingham on Saturday 5th December. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
Next CCH meeting
[05-09-2009] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place at CDS Co-operatives in London on Saturday 12th September. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
The National Tenant Voice
[05-09-2009] The National Tenant Voice is a new organisation for tenants of housing associations, housing co-ops and local authorities (including ALMOs) in England. It is being set up to give tenants a voice, influence and expertise at national level. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to get the voice of tenants heard and to influence national policies that affect social housing tenants. Consider applying to be on the new National Tenant Council - find out more.
CCH 16th Annual Conference 2009:
"Communities & Power - It's time for tenant control"
[29-07-2009] Pictures from the conference that took place in July 2009 at the Beaumont House Conference Centre, Old Windsor.
Job advert: Greener Together – Project Manager - Manchester
[17-07-2009] Co-operativesUK is delivering a two year national project Greener Together – The Co-operative Way, funded by Defra's Greener Living Fund. The programme aims to achieve a measurable change in pro-environmental behaviours and provide information on sustainable behaviour. This is a beacon project for Co-operativesUK and places co-operatives firmly at the heart of the fight to mitigate the affects of climate change. [More information]
Next CCH meeting
[13-07-2009] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place at CDS Co-operatives in London on Saturday 12th September (12pm - 3pm). Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
Commission for Co-operative & Mutual Housing
The Commission has arranged a special hearing for local authority members and officers to hear about mutual housing models and to give evidence to the Commission. [More information]
Download Flyer (PDF document, 97 Kb)
CCH 16th Annual Conference 2009 " Communities & Power - It's time for tenant control "
[14-05-2009] Are you a Co-op or a TMO member or worker? Are you involved with or interested in tenant & community controlled housing? If so, then Friday 10th to Sunday 12th July 2009 is a big weekend for your diary. The CCH and the NFTMO are teaming up once again to bring you an exciting and stimulating national conference to share experiences and good practice, catch up on news and events, meet old friends and to generally educate and inspire! [Updated information]
Annual General Meeting 2009
The CCH's Annual General Meeting will be held at the CCH Annual Conference 2009 on the Sunday 12 July at 10.00am. Whilst all delegates will be welcome to attend the AGM, only representatives of CCH members will be entitled to vote at the AGM.
Next CCH meeting
[10-05-2009] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on Saturday 16st May in Birmingham. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
Commission for Co-operative & Mutual Housing - Call for Evidence
[26-03-2009] The Commission for Co-operative & Mutual Housing is researching co-operative and mutual housing with an intention to produce a report that will be promoted to all political parties in Autumn 2009. As part of CCMH's work, it has launched a call for evidence so that individuals and organisations can feed in views and evidence about co-operative & mutual housing. Further information about CCMH can be found on their website.
As the CCH, we are particular keen to see as many housing co-ops and other tenant controlled housing organisations feed their views and information about best practice in their organisations to the CCMH.
The CCMH - Call for Evidence is available in two formats:
MS Word document, 484 Kb
PDF document, 391 Kb
The closing date is 29th May 2009
CCH 16th Annual Conference 2009
[26-03-2009] Are you a Co-op or a TMO member or worker? Are you involved with or interested in tenant & community controlled housing? If so, then Friday 10th to Sunday 12th july 2009 is a big weekend for your diary. The CCH and the NFTMO are teaming up once again to bring you an exciting and stimulating national conference to share experiences and good practice, catch up on news and events, meet old friends and to generally educate and inspire! [More information]
Next CCH meeting
[22-03-2009] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on Saturday 16st May in Birmingham. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
Tell the Tenant Services Authority what you want
[17-02-2009] The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) is the new regulator for homes owned by housing co-ops and housing associations (ie. they tell co-ops and associations what standards are expected of them).
They are currently asking tenants what is important to them before they go on to draw up new standards for housing co-ops and associations. It is important that as many housing co-op members let them know what we want out of this, so that we end up with standards that are good for tenants, and appropriate for housing co-ops.
You can find out how to communicate with the TSA on their website. In particular there is an online survey form all housing co-op members can fill in. Thanks to the CCH, we got a box on the survey form that gives you the opportunity to say that you are a housing co-op tenant – so please make use of it!!!
The TSA's consultation runs until 11 March 2009.
Next CCH meeting
The CCH is planning a weekend event for the General Council primarily to bring newer General Council members up to speed with CCH issues. This will take place on 16th and 17th of January 2009. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
CCH Newsletter
[07-01-2009] The CCH Winter 2008 Bulletin is out.
Developing Housing Strategy in a Post Credit Crunch World
[12-11-2008] The CCH, with its partner national tenant organisations, TAROE and NFTMO, has published a housing reform proposal paper:
Developing Housing Strategy in a Post Credit Crunch World (MS Word document, 290 Kb)
Commission for Co-operative & Mutual Housing publishes proposal paper
[02-11-2008] Based on its research and in response to the Government's Communities in Control White Paper, Commission for Co-operative & Mutual Housing (CCMH) has published its first viewpoint paper to Government. The viewpoint paper and the first CCMH Bulletin can be found here.
Next CCH meeting
[12-10-2008] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on Saturday 18th October in Liverpool. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
Commission on co-operative and mutual housing
[27-08-2008] CCH along with Co-operatives UK and key partners in the housing association sector are working on an independent Commission to explore the role housing co-operatives play in providing democratically accountable housing and communities. The Commission's aim is to look at our sector and recommend ways in which the work of housing co-operatives can be expanded. [More information]
CCH Annual Conference 2008
[12-08-2008] Pictures from the CCH 15th Annual Conference 2008 - Voices, which took place in July at Trafford Hall near Chester.
Next CCH meeting
[11-08-2008] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on Saturday 16th August at the Peepul Centre Leicester. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
National Tenant Voice consultation paper
[07-07-2008] The CCH has been working with TAROE (Tenants & Residents Organisations of England), NFTMO (National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations), CLG (Communities & Local Government) and others to develop proposals for a National Tenant Voice. A consultation paper has been produced which organisations and individuals are invited to respond - even if they just wish to say that they agree to the proposals. The closing date for the consultation is 12 September.
National Tenant Voice consultation paper (MS Word document, 94 Kb)
[Updated 19-07-2008]
CCH 15th Annual Conference 2008 - Voices
[30-06-2008 Updated] Are you involved with or interested in tenant & community controlled housing? If so, then Friday 11th to Sunday 13th july 2008 is an important weekend for your diary. This is a conference run for and by tenants, and members of housing co-ops. Come along and be inspired! [More information]
The Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday 13th July 2008 at the conference. GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
Seminars to discuss the proposed National Tenant Voice
[04-06-2008] The CCH have been working with TAROE (Tenants & Residents Organisations of England), NFTMO (National Federation of TMOs) and CLG (Communities & Local Government - i.e. the Government) on developing proposals for a National Tenant Voice. As part of this process, we are arranging a consultation process for tenants. 8 seminars (free for tenants) are being arranged. See the flyer below for information on how to book into the seminar of your choice.
National Tenant Voice Flyer (PDF document, 1092 Kb)
Flint hails resident involvement in co-operative housing
[07-03-2008] Housing Minister Caroline Flint today hailed co-operative housing as a model for the safe and sustainable neighbourhoods of the future. Ms Flint was speaking after a visit to Redditch where local residents have helped to design two complexes of Eco Homes which they now manage through local co-operatives. [Continue reading]
CCH Newsletter
[04-03-2008] The CCH Spring 2008 Bulletin is available for download.
The case for new co-operative housing in Cambridge
[31-01-2008] The long established Argyle Street Housing Co-op in Cambridge is looking for opportunities to develop new homes in the area. This report makes the case to politicians and others for building new co-operative homes.
Argyle Street Housing (ASH) Co-op in Cambridge is planning a new development. There's going to be massive new housebuilding in Cambridge as it's been marked out as a growth area. ASH Co-op has been keen to develop for a long time, so this is an opportunity to get something done. The co-op has made contacts with supportive councillors locally, and also sent a report on "The case for new co-operative housing in Cambridge" to key councillors and council officers. Largely as a result, the City Council recently passed a motion in which it "undertakes to promote co-operative housing in the new developments as part of its overall affordable housing commitment".
ASH Co-op is forming a development partnership with Birmingham Co-operative Housing Services, which as part of Accord Housing Group is an approved developer with the Housing Corporation and has experience of developing co-ops. Together they aim to develop a flagship environmental scheme in Cambridge, with a more diverse range of housing than ASH Co-op's existing site. The new scheme will be self-governing from day to day, and hopefully fully independent in the long term. If (when!) it succeeds, it may even open the door for more new co-ops in the city.
Argyle Street Housing Co-op - The case for new co-operative housing in Cambridge (PDF document, 1535 Kb, Large file!)
To contact Argyle Street Co-op please visit their website.
Response to CLG consultation
[17-01-2008] Joint CCH / NFTMO/ TAROE response to CLG consultation An Action Plan for Community Empowerment: Building on Success
Response to to CLG consultation An Action Plan for Community Empowerment: Building on Success (MS Word document, 303 Kb)
Next CCH meeting / CCH Planning Weekend
[11-01-2008] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on Sunday 20th January 2008 at Highgate Hall, Creaton, near Northampton. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
The CCH Planning Weekend takes place on Friday 18th to Saturday 19th January 2008, same venue. Info for GC members.
CCH Bulletin
[01-11-2007] The latest issue of the CCH Bulletin, the newsletter of the co-operative and mutual housing sector in England and Wales, is available for download.
Response to Housing Green Paper consultation
[15-10-2007] The joint CCH / TAROE / NFTMO submission to the consultation on the Housing Green Paper - Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable - is available for download:
Response to the Housing Green Paper Homes for the future (MS Word document, 280 Kb)
TAROE Annual General Meeting
[12-10-2007] Our partner organisation, TAROE, the organisation that represents tenants and residents federations and groups, is holding its AGM on 24th October 2007 at 'THE SPOT', Sacheveral Street, Derby, DE1 2JR.
Whilst only affiliated organisations can vote at their AGM, the event as a whole is open and free to all tenants, and we would encourage tenants to attend if they wish (although delegates need to send in a booking form).
The main discussion item on the day is the Government's proposals to strengthen the "National Tenants Voice". The CCH has worked with TAROE and the NFTMOs to develop proposals on this issue that will bring the tenant movement together.
For further information visit the TAROE website.
Response to CLG consultations
[07-09-2007] The joint CCH / TAROE / NFTMO submissions to two Communities & Local Government consultations are available for download:
Response to the CLG consultation on the future of Communities England and regulation of social housing (MS Word document, 300 Kb)
Response to the CLG consultation on tenant empowerment (MS Word document, 328 Kb)
The Three National Tenant Organisations Discuss Joint Action
[01-08-2007] CCH Representatives have met with their counterparts from TAROE and NFTMO to explore how the three national tenants' organisations might work together to represent tenants on issues of common concern.
The CCH, TAROE (Tenants and Residents of England - representing tenant federations and other tenant representative bodies) and NFTMO (National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations) are the national tenants organisations and are recognised by the Government as such. It was agreed that all three organisations will continue to remain independent, focusing on their respective areas and their members' interests, but it is clear that there are major issues on which tenants' interests will be best served if the three national organisations work together. Over the last few years the CCH has been developing a closer working relationship with NFTMO to good effect. The added involvement of TAROE in joint initiatives would strengthen the tenants' voice in discussions with the Government and others.
Members of the three organisations will be meeting on August 15th to discuss a response to the Government consultation papers "Tenant Empowerment" and "Delivering Housing & Regeneration: Communities England and the future of social housing regulation".
CCH Annual General Meeting
[01-06-2007] The CCH Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at at the joint CCH/NFTMO annual conference on Friday 8th June 2007 at Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool. All member organisations are invited to attend this meeting. Please contact us for further details.
GC members can download all documents for the meeting in the Members' Area (login required). All others will find agenda and minutes here.
CCH Conference 2007 - 14th Annual Conference
[17-06-2007] This year's Annual Conference took place in Blackpool, 8th to 10th of June 2007, in Partnership with the National Federation of Tenant Management Organisation (NFTMO). The conference theme was Tenant Control - Community Democracy. Pictures and report from the conference.
CCH response to the Housing Corporation Involvement Policy
[19-03-2007] The CCH's response to the Housing Corporation's Involvement Policy for housing association tenants is partially based on the views expressed by housing association tenants at the Involving Tenants in Decision-Making Seminar held in Birmingham on 28th February 2007. This seminar saw over 100 delegates (primarily housing association tenants but with some staff) attend to discuss the policy.
Download CCH response to the Housing Corporation Involvement Policy (MS Word document, 167 Kb)
Joint CCH / TAROE / NFTMO submission to the Cave Review
[20-02-2007] A joint response from the CCH with TAROE (the national representative body for tenant and resident organisations in England) and NFTMO (the national representative body for Tenant Management Organisations) to the Government's Cave Review into the future of housing association regulation (and wider issues).
Download the Submission to the Cave Review
Involving Tenants in Decision Making
A one day consultation seminar to discuss the Housing Corporation's Resident & Community Involvement Policy.
IBIS Birmingham Centre
21 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham
Wednesday 28th February 2007, 10am to 3pm
Free for all tenants of "Registered Social Landlords" (tenants of housing organisations registered with the Housing Corporation).
The Housing Corporation is currently consulting on its Resident & Community Involvement Policy. The Confederation of Co-operative Housing and the National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations are hosting this consultation event so that the views of tenants who support the principle that tenants should be able to get involved in decision-making can be fed into the process.
The seminar will discuss:
- Tenants views of the consultation paper. Richard Warrington, leading on the Housing Corporation's Involvement Policy review, will attend the seminar on behalf of the Corporation.
- The recent report from the National Housing Federation's Tenant Involvement Commission calling for a new relationship between tenants and housing association landlords.
- Innovative ways in which tenants are getting involved in making decisions in the housing association sector.
For further information, please ring Nic Bliss on 0121 449 9588.
NHF Tenant Involvement Commission report
[24-09-2006] The National Housing Federation's Tenant Involvement Commission report is now available at their website. The Tenant Involvement Commission was set up to investigate how housing association tenants can have a greater say in how their landlord operates and manages their homes and neighbourhoods.
From Decent Homes to Sustainable Communities
[13-09-2006] CCH response to the DCLG discussion paper "From Decent Homes to Sustainable Communities" - a paper that seeks to chart the way forward for housing strategy in the UK following the Decent Homes programme to improve local authority and housing association housing.
Download CCH response to DCLG (MS Word document, 104 Kb)
Strategy to develop community control and co-operation in housing
[07-07-2006] Working with the National Federation of TMOs and the Co-operative Housing Group (a national body that represents the co-operative movement's approach to housing issues), the CCH has prepared a draft strategy for the development of community control and co-operation in housing in the UK.
Strategy documents of this nature can be useful in uniting and inspiring our sector and therefore we are keen to hear any views on the strategy from CCH and NFTMO members, and from people and organisations who support the principles of co-operation in housing. Even if you agree with everything, we'd be interested to hear from you! Please also highlight that the strategy is being consulted on to any colleagues who you think might be interested.
The closing date for receiving comments on the draft strategy will be 25th August 2006 (please respond to info@cch.coop). After this date we will be finalising the strategy on the basis of comments received, printing it and using it as the basis for our continuing dialogue with Government and others about the future of community and co-operatively controlled housing.
Download draft strategy document
(MS Word document, 198 Kb)
Study on the feasibility of new, privately funded housing co-ops
[01-06-2006] A new report by Upstart Services Ltd, with the support of Co-operative Financial Services: The feasibility of Housing Co-operatives in a rising housing market (PDF, 226 Kb).
CCH 13th Annual Conference
[18-05-2006] The CCH's 13th Annual Conference was held from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th of May 2006 at the National Tenants Resource Centre, Trafford Hall, near Chester.
This event was a smaller lower key event than previous CCH conferences, but still contained guest speakers, themed workshops, the CCH AGM, the ever popular CCH quiz, and the rural delights of Trafford Hall!
[Pictures and report from the conference]
CCH submission to Labour Party Sustainable Communities Policy Commission
[01-05-2006] The CCH was asked to make a contribution to the Labour Party's Sustainable Communities Commission. We were particularly asked to focus on the future role and funding of the social housing sector.
Download CCH's submission to the Labour Party's Creating Sustainable Communities Policy Commission
(MS Word document, 63 Kb)
CCH submission to the National Housing Federation's Tenant Involvement Commission
[01-05-2006] Following the launch of David Miliband's Together We Can Initiative, the National Housing Federation has launched a Tenant Involvement Commission to explore how the housing association sector engages with its tenants. This is the CCH submission to that commission.
Download CCH's submission to the National Housing Federation (MS Word document, 104 Kb)
Co-operative Congress 2006
[22-03-2006] The Co-operative Congress 2006 takes place in Manchester on Friday 19th of May to Sunday, 21st of May. It offers a topical range of seminars, workshops and speakers and three days of lively discussion, debate and networking.
Topics and seminars include:
- Consumer co-operation
- Worker co-operation and employee ownership
- Co-operative development
- Climate change
- Women in co-operatives
- The future of Fairtrade
- Leadership in co-operative business
Find out more at the Co-operative Congress 2006 website.
New on this site
[03-03-2006] ...in the Information & Guides section: Co-op Facts from around the world.
January CCH Bulletin now available as PDF: Community Gateway - The Gateway Opens
BBC Documentary on Squatters
[21-01-2006] This documentary is called Lefties Property is Theft and tells the story of squatting in Brixton in the Seventies. It is to be shown on BBC4 on February 8th at 9pm. A participant in the making of this film tells us:
Those of us active in the housing co-operative movement now have never lost sight of the roots of the movement in the squatting struggle 30 years ago. The scenes of the demolition ball smashing the roofs of squats with people still living in them convey the reality of our struggle so directly, as does the retelling of the political story behind what we did.
This documentary is built on memories, old photos, archive footage of Brixton before the riots, and suggests that history is never true, only what it is fashioned to be. Above all, the history of life in Villa Rd, Brixton, exposes the betrayal by those of our own generation, who now sit in Westminster, of the quest for deep social change and equality.
Job Advert: Community Development Officer
[27-11-2005] The Community Gateway Association is looking for 5 Community Development Officer, dynamic and enthusiastic people to work closely with residents and community groups, helping them to influence what happens in the areas where they live. [Find out more]
CCH Bulletin October 2005
[01-11-2005] The October 2005 bulletin is now available online for download as PDF.
Social Economy Conference 2005
Theme: Progressing the Social Economy through Art/ Media/ Design and vice versa
Venue: Old Seager Distillery, Deptford
Date: 29th October 2005
[19-10-2005] The focus of this conference, which is sponsored by Sanford Housing Co-op, will be on co-op / community groups in South East London and "media-centric" groups from around London, looking at taking the social economy to the next level of networking, communication and visibility. Speakers will be coming from various groups, including SELEDA, the Hub, Deptford Arts Network and Sanford Housing Co-op, attempting to demonstrate how the social economy can support the arts and how art/ media can progress the social economy. There will be workshops running at the same time, which will show those interested, how to set up their own projects, looking at incorporation, financing and pitfalls. [More information at althousing.net]
Tenant Managed Organisation Forum
[17-10-2005] The London Federation of Housing Cooperatives invites everyone involved in Housing Co-ops or Tenant Managed Organisations in the London area to join them at the Tenant Managed Organisation Forum at Kings College London on Saturday 22nd of October 2005 (Free entry).
The meeting is intended to see how Co-ops and TMOs can work together for mutual benefit and to discuss key issues such as: networking, promoting the concept of tenant and resident controlled housing generally, and how to influence housing policies.
Speakers are: Cllr Ron Bartholomew of Coop Homes, Nic Bliss of the CCH and Blaise Lambert of Brent Community HC.
Further information (PDF File, 861 Kb)
CCH's 12th Annual Conference
[Updated 31-05-2005] The CCH Annual Conference "Community control... still working after all these years!" took place at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre, Stone, Staffordshire from 6th to 8th of May 2005.
New Co-op Forum
[17-05-2005] Catalyst Collective has just set up a co-op forum:
It's an open resource.... another way for co-operators to stay in touch... a place to publicise whatever you like... a user-friendly notice board and chat space... open to all...
its at the beginning of its development, and we hope it will prove to be useful... take a look....
Anti-Social Behaviour Policy & Procedures
[Updated 17-01-2005] Recent Government legislation requires all social housing landlords (including housing co-ops) to adopt policies and procedures on Anti-Social Behaviour by the end of 2004. The CCH has drawn up a policy and procedure document on Anti-Social Behaviour as a model that can be used by housing co-ops to meet the requirements of the legislation. Download it here.
Conference : Housing at the Heart of Sustainable Communities
[29-11-2004] Traditional solutions are failing to solve the escalating housing problems in many regions of the UK. This unique conference will showcase national and international affordable social enterprise answers. It aims to springboard the development of innovative, alternative solutions to housing and wider community issues drawing on the experience of both major UK and European experts in this field.
The conference takes place at the Somerset County Cricket Club, Taunton, on 24 February 2005.
![[PDF icon]](pics/pdf.gif "Download this file"){kind=small}
Download programme and registration form [PDF File, 796 Kb]
Community Gateway
[21-07-2004] Three years ago, the CCH developed the Community Gateway Model to enable small scale community and co-operative activity within large scale housing organisations. The theoretical background to setting up a Community Gateway Association was set out in 2002 in the Empowering Communities report, published by CCH, Chartered Institute of Housing and Co-ops UK.
A new report - Empowering Communities in Preston, launched at a packed conference in Preston on 16th July 2004 - outlines the practical implementation of the Community Gateway model in Preston.
Digital television switchover
[25-06-2004] The Department for Culture Media and Sport has sent out a letter to advise housing communities about the Government's objectives for digital television and how they can start preparing for the digital switchover. It contains a questionnaire designed to help the DCMS understand the needs of the housing sector.
Download Digital Television and the Government's Plans for Digital Switchover [MS Word .doc File, 71 Kb]
Co-ops UK Housing Group
[06-04-2004] The CCH, in partnership with Co-ops UK, has formed a new housing group to consider practical methods of developing co-operative housing. Chaired by Andy Love MP, the first meeting of the group was held on 24th March 2004. Minutes from the first meeting will be available soon. [Find out more...]
CCH Annual Conference 2004 : Extending Co-operation
[27-03-2004] Pictures from the conference.
Job Advert
[10-11-2004] Seymour Housing Co-operative is looking for a Housing Manager and Argyle Street Housing Co-op for a Housing Co-ordinator.
Event: South West urban housing solutions conference
[26-08-2004] The Co-operative Group and RISE present the South West urban housing solutions conference in Bristol on Wednesday 6th October 2004.
The conference will cover topics such as Obtaining finance, Affordable urban housing, Co-operative housing business and the Community Gateway Model in practice. Speakers will include Blase Lambert and Nic Bliss from the CCH.
Download programme and registration form [PDF File, 1285 Kb, large file!]
Event: Power to the People?
[24-08-2004] Power to the People? Challenges, realities and prospects for real community empowerment in public service delivery - A one day conference on 14 October 2004 at The Royal College of Physicians, London.
This one day conference for senior policy makers and leading practitioners looks at the current reality and future potential of social enterprise approaches to the delivery of key public services. A panel of leading politicians, opinion leaders and practitioners will provide a unique insight into current policy and practice, and address the key barriers to achieving the full potential that co-operative and social enterprise solutions could deliver for the future wellbeing of our communities. More information and booking form.
[27-01-2004] The CCH invites you to this year's conference, which takes place at Stoke Rochford Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire on 19th - 21st March 2004. Expect a great program of workshops and speakers.
Job Advert
[01-04-2004] Co-op Housing in Partnership (CHiP), a new housing services provider for Co-ops, is looking for a Co-op Housing Manager and a Finance Worker. [Find out more...]
Austrian Housing Co-operative Conference
[28-11-2003] David Rodgers, Executive Director of CDS Co-operatives and the UK's elected representative on the Housing Board of the International Co-operative Alliance, was the international guest speaker at the 14th Housing Economics Conference of the Austrian Federation of Housing Co-operatives held in Vienna on 14 November 2003.
The conference theme was Conflict situations among residents and was held to look at best practice in the management of harassment, disputes and antisocial behaviour and its economic impact. David was invited to speak on the UK experience so that comparisons could be made and shared with Austrian co-operators.
» Find out more...
Model policies and procedures for housing co-ops
[07-09-2003] The CCH has put together a set of policies for housing co-ops managed by general meeting. Download them here.
New domain name, new host
[18-04-2003] The CCH website has moved to the new domain name cch.coop (which, believe me, has nothing to do with chickens) and a new host (gradwell.com). The old domain name (cch-uk.org) will still work but it will only redirect to the new URL. Email addresses were switched over a while ago but cch-uk.org addresses will also still work, at least for another year. You may now adjust your bookmarks.
Response to The Housing Corporation's "Board member remuneration"
[04-02-2003] The Housing Corporation's paper on board member remuneration indicates that the decision to allow associations to pay board members has already been taken, and that those who wish to respond are only being asked to comment on how this should be done. Read on...
The Community Gateway
[20-01-2003] This joint report by the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, Chartered Institute of Housing and Co-operative Union launched in January 2003 examines how the CCH's proposed Community Gateway Model could be implemented in council stock options appraisals to give tenants and communities a range of options for empowerment including housing co-ops in their local communities. Get the PDF file here.
Website Redesign
[20-01-2003] As you might have noticed, this site has just undergone a major redesign. Here's the lowdown on the design, the accessibility features used and the testing done [page removed, April 2008] - for anyone interested. If you experience any problems, please email me immediately. Feedback welcome. <webmaster@cch-uk.org>
November CCH meeting
[30-10-2003] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on 7 November 2003 in Stoke Rochford. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
June CCH meeting
[23-06-2003] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on 19 July 2003 at Redditch Co-operative Homes in Worcestershire. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
May CCH meeting
[03-05-2003] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on 17 May 2003 at Homes for Change in Hulme, Manchester. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
CCH's 10th Annual Conference
[18-03-2003] The updated programme for this year's conference 'Citizens not consumers, Tenants not customers' is available. Find out more.
Upcoming GC meeting
[24-02-2003] The next CCH General Council Meeting will take place on 15th March 2003 at Brent Community Housing in London. Contact us for details or let us know if you would linke to get involved.
CCH's 10th Annual Conference
[20-01-2003] This year's conference is entitled Citizens not consumers, Tenants not customers and will take place in Grantham, Lincolnshire, 21st - 23rd March 2003. Find out more.
Report on CCH meeting with the Law Commission
[11-11-2002] Blase Lambert, David Rodgers and Nic Bliss met Richard Percival and Matthew Waddington from the Law Commission on 29th October to discuss the CCH's submission on the single tenancy proposals. Read more.
Next CCH Meeting
[16-10-2002] The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on 2 November 2002 in Leicester. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
Job Advert
[08-10-2002] Brent Community Housing Ltd, a housing co-operative that provides temporary and permanent accommodation in North London for 400 tenants, is looking for a Director to work closely with its Management Committee.
» Find out more...
ATIC Conference 2002
[01-10-2002] ATIC, the Association for Tenant Involvement and Control, presents its Fifth Policy Conference and AGM under the title 'Help, I'm a Tenant, Get Me In There! Making tenant involvement really mean something'. The conference will take place on Thursday, 24th October 2002, at The Lighthouse in Wolverhampton.
» Find out more...
June CCH Meeting
28 May 2002
The next CCH General Council meeting will take place on the 15th of June 2002 at Charlemont Farm, West Bromwich. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
April CCH Meeting
3 April 2002
The next CCH General Council meeting is being held on the 20th April 2002 at Rainbow Housing Co-op in Milton Keynes. Housing co-op members (particularly those from CCH member organisations) are welcome to attend. Please contact us for further details.
CHICS Require Staff
19 March 2002
CHICS (Co-op Housing Integrated Computer Systems Ltd), produces housing management software for smaller housing organisations. We started back in the 80s from small beginnings within in the Co-op movement, and have progressed to providing Rents, Maintenance, Tenant Management and Stock Condition modules to 90 clients in England and Ireland.
We are looking for new staff in London and Bristol working on promotion and client support / training.
CCH - 9th Annual Conference
Creating the framework for community control
4 February 2002
The Wigan and Standish Moat House
22nd - 24th March 2002
Wigan & Standish Moat House
Keynote Speakers
- Ms Sally Keeble, MP.
- Helen Seymour, Co-op Union.
- Terry Edis, Burrowes Co-operative.
- Andrew Heywood, Council of Mortgage Lenders.
Plus:
- A rigorous examination of the Gateway model for local authorities tenants.
- Presentation of the current research into community control in the housing association sector.
- A debate to test whether consumer or community interests in housing are more important.
- As well as workshops on both practical and policy issues relating to housing co-operatives and tenant control.
February CCH Meeting
30 January 2002
The next CCH General Council meeting is on Saturday 9th of February at Brent Housing Co-op in London.
Upcoming CCH Meeting
10 December 2001
The next CCH General Council meeting is on Saturday 15th December at Balsall Heath Housing Co-op in Birmingham. For more information and directions contact Nic Bliss <info@cch.coop>
Community Control through Stock Transfer Seminars
14 November 2001
The Confederation of Co-operative Housing in partnership with The Co-operative Union Chartered Institute of Housing present two seminars on Stock Transfer - the Community Gateway Model:
- Wednesday 5th December, New Century Hall, Manchester
- Wednesday 12th December, Stockwell Park Estate Management Board, London
Speakers to include: Lord Graham of Edmonton (Chairman UK Co-operative Council), Pauline Green (Co-operative Union) and many more.
![[PDF icon]](../pics/pdf.gif "Download this file"){kind=small}
Download Programme and Application Form (PDF file, 73 Kb). [To download, right-click (PC) or click and hold (Mac) and select 'Save Link/Target As'. Requires the free Acrobat Reader.]
Forthcoming meetings
14 November 2001
Forthcoming CCH General Council meetings will be held on:
- 15th December 2001 - Balsall Heath Housing Co-op - Birmingham
- 9th February 2002 - Brent Community Housing - London
CCH Press Release
17 October 2001
Best practice on community control in the RSL sector
The Confederation of Co-operative Housing and the Housing Corporation have agreed to work in partnership on a 5 year programme to develop models of community control for housing association tenants and best practice methods of promoting and supporting them, followed by a dissemination programme to RSL tenants up and down the country. [Read more...]
Upcoming CCH events
30 September 2001
CCH General Council meetings:
- 27th October, Manchester.
- 15th December, Birmingham.
Seminars
The CCH's stock transfer proposals will be launched on 24th October in the House of Lords in a Mutuo publication together with critiques by Cobbetts and HACAS Chapman Hendy. A project proposal is being drafted to consult on and develop/implement the stock transfer proposals. A key part of the consultation programme will be two seminars, aimed at local authority members, staff and tenants, in Manchester on 5th December, and in London on 12th December. For further details, please contact the Co-op Union Events Office on 0161 246 2908 or rbutler.coopunion@co-op.co.uk
CCH Conference
The next CCH annual conference and AGM is being organised for the 22nd - 24th March 2004 in the North-West (details will follow soon). Confirmed speaker: Sally Keeble MP - Deputy Housing Minister.
ATIC Conference October 2001
30 September 2001
ATIC - the Association for Tenant Involvement & Control - is holding its annual conference on Tuesday 23rd October 2001 at the Britannia Hotel in Birmingham. Keynote speakers include Lord Falconer - Minister of State for Housing; Roy Irwin - the Audit Commission; Norman Perry - The Housing Corporation; Sarah Webb - Community Housing Taskforce.
More information
[PDF File, 50 Kb. To download, right-click (PC) or click and hold (Mac) and select 'Save Link/Target As'.]
People for Action O2 in October
29 September 2001
Paul Slatter writes:
O2 is the Housing Corporation funded programme to help housing organisations transform themselves to become more effective investors in the community. People for Action's O2 programme of events in October is open to housing co-op members and workers and anyone else with an interest in changing the culture in housing organisations. In October O2 events are:
1 October Teleconference: Using ICT to Transform Housing Organisations, with David Wilcox of Partnerships On-line.
3 October: Community Based Regeneration Event all-day at Bromley-by-Bow Centre with people from Bromley-by-Bow and from Poplar HARCA.
10 October: Linking Development Trusts and Housing Associations all day event at Coin Street, London with speakers from Coin Street Community Builders, 1066 HA and Hastings Trust.
15 October Teleconference: Community Planning, with Dan Nicholls of Cardiff Community Housing Association.
30 October: Housing Stock Transfer and Community Control event at Salterbeck Estate, Workington with speakers from Impact HA, Salterbeck ACE and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh.
O2 teleconferences and events - according to participants so far - are useful, interesting ... and fun. You need no special equipment to take part in teleconferences (other than a phone).
To join O2 (it's free)and try out one of these events either email pslatter@peopleforaction.demon.co.uk or give Clare Whiting a ring at the PFA office on 0121 633 3836 Suggestions of future events, teleconferences and briefings welcome.
Argyle Street Housing Co-op 20 years young
11 September 2001
martin pelan writes:
Argyle Street Housing Co-op, in Cambridge is celebrating its 20th anniversary this Saturday 15th September 2001.
We are trying to contact as many ex-members as possible to help make the day a real celebration of the hard work and effort made by all our members over the past 20 years.
If any ex-ASH people are reading this and wish to attend, please contact me on 01223 411 615.
Now, all together now : "Three cheers for ASH Co-op, hip, hip, hooray"....etc.
Creating Community Control through stock transfer
19 August 2001
The CCH has developed proposals on creating community control through stock transfer. It is intended that these policies will form the leading part of a publication on stock transfer to be published through the Co-operative Party in October.
Update: The Future of Homes for Change...
13 July 2001
On Wednesday, 11th July, the Board of Trustees of the Guinness Trust, chaired by the Marchioness of Douro, decide NOT to extinguish the organisation responsible for one of the most innovative and successful social housing developments in the country, Homes for Change Housing Co-operative in Hulme, Manchester - not just yet at least.
» Find out more at the Homes for Change Website
Homes for Change needs you
9 July 2001
Charlie Baker of Homes for Change in Manchester writes:
Homes for Change Housing Co-operative is being threatened with being shut down by the Guinness Trust, our alleged partners in the development.
The building was built for Homes for Change and their sister workspace co-op Work for Change, to buy, but because of huge cost overruns they are acting like they don't want to sell it.
Homes & Work for change have offered to pay the 2.17 million that independent valuers have told us it is worth, but Guinness want more money (although they wont tell us how much!).
We have put a huge amount of work over fourteen years into designing and managing this building and arranging bank loans to purchase it - despite being badly let down by Guinness under whose charge the scheme went hugely over budget, a long way over time and they have still not remedied most of the defects that came with the building.
Housing associations like Guinness are bidding to take over most of the council housing in the country - if they are allowed to treat us like this today, other communities will get an equally poor service tomorrow.
Spring 2001 Bulletin now available online
15 June 2001
Find out more and download the PDF File here.
CCH meeting, 23 June 2001
The next CCH General Council meeting is taking place in Liverpool, Saturday 23rd June 2001. We will be discussing plans for next year's CCH conference and hear reports from our sub-groups (Finance & Membership, Publicity & Information, Research & Policy). If you are interested in getting involved and attending the meeting, contact us for details and directions.
Upcoming CCH GC meetings:
1 September 2001 Sunderland
27 October 2001 Manchester
15 December 2001 Balsall Heath
New documents online
Guardian article
11 June 2001
It seems there was an article in The Guardian on Saturday about co-operative housing. Perfectly timed, this coincided with us moving the CCH website to a new server. Theoretically this went without anybody noticing, except maybe those submitting the feedback form. If you did use the feedback form on Saturday or Sunday (9/10 June), please re-submit. Apologies.
I have not been able to find the above mentioned article online. If anybody sees it online please let me know the URL.
UPDATE 12/6/2001: The article was in the Guardian Weekend, 9 June 2001. It's titled 'Pull yourself together' and describes communal life in a Bristol Co-op.
Iris <webmaster@cch.coop>
Press Release: CCH Research
10 April 2001
The Confederation of Co-operative Housing launched its research into the impacts that tenant control has on social exclusion at its recent annual conference at the International Co-operative College.
Tenant Control & Social Exclusion drew on the experience of tenants living in eight tenant controlled organisations and how they tackle social exclusion.
The main findings of the research were:
- Tenants of tenant controlled organisations list their most important concerns as good quality housing services, concerns about crime and issues relating to community.
- Tenants of tenant controlled organisations do not see themselves as being socially excluded, despite living in areas targeted by the Social Exclusion Unit as areas of deprivation. This is primarily because of the strength of the communities that they have built.
- Against the Social Exclusion Unit's own test of effective communities (set out in the Policy Action Team report 9), all the tenant controlled organisations scored highly.
- It has been a significant omission that the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal has not considered the potential role of tenant controlled organisations in addressing the needs of "social excluded" neighbourhoods.
Get involved, come to a CCH meeting
1 April 2001
The CCH is a voluntary organisation made up of representatives from housing co-ops across the country. We are always keen to see new volunteers getting involved, and there is always something for people to do. The work of the General Council covers the following areas:
- Policy & strategy
- Research
- Publicity & information
- Finance & membership
- CCH services
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us or fill in the feedback form, indicating which area you are particularly interested in, and we'll be in touch with you.
Or come along to the next CCH General Council meeting on Saturday, 21st April 2001, at Brent Community Housing in London. It will include an introductory session to explain the work of the CCH.
Contact details »
Feedback form »
CCH announces public mailing list
18 March 2001
Demand for a CCH mailing lists has been rising so we have finally set up a group at YahooGroups (formerly the well-respected eGroups). All you eager co-operators can now sign up to this group and start a new online community, where you can learn about co-operative living, exchange anecdotes or ask questions.
Please be aware that we are only just starting this mailing list. In fact *you* will be one of the first members of this group. So expect traffic to be low in the beginning. We are officially launching this mailing list at the CCH Annual Conference and hope to raise some interest there. After that, it's what you make it :) » Check it out
Code of Governance
27 February 2001
The Code of Governance for Housing Co-operatives has been updated to its final version. This document clarifies the important issues to do with how housing co-ops should be governed in order to provide maximum benefits for their members.
CCH Conference 2001:
28 January 2001
"Creating the framework for community control"
The 8th Annual CCH Conference is taking place in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside near Loughborough between 23rd - 25th March 2001. » Information & Booking Form
Can't find anything?
20 January 2001
Well, now you can. We have just added a Search Engine to this site, which can be found in the top right corner of every page. On top of that, we have finally put together a Sitemap, which gives an ordered overview of the whole site. As usual, feedback welcome.
A new home: cch-uk.org
12 January 2001
A new millennium (finally) and a new home for the CCH website. We have now moved to our own domain at http://www.cch-uk.org/ with all the benefits that come with properly paid for hosting. Please remember to adjust your bookmarks/favorites and links to the CCH that you might have on your own site because the old address at Easynet is soon going to be discontinued.
CCH Bulletin
1 November 2000
The summer edition is finally online. Just when you thought it would never happen. The good news is, the bulletin editor and the webmaster are finally communicating, so maybe the next time, the print and the online edition will actually appear at the same time ;) » Check it out
We have also just updated the Code of Governance for Housing Co-operatives. Let us have your comments.
Documents Update
16 August 2000
We have added more basic information about co-operative housing in the Housing Co-ops section and the CCH's Response to the Government Green Paper - 'Quality & Choice - A Decent Home for All' (June 2000) is now available online.
Document Archive
21 June 2000
A number of important policy documents have just been added to our document archive, e.g. a letter to Nick Raynsford, MP, part of an ongoing dialogue discussing government support for the housing co-operative model. » Check it out
I'm back
29 May 2000
Your all-too-busy webmaster has finally emerged from the land of late night studying, exams are over, dissertation handed in... and now it's time to give this site its deserved attention. I'll be spending the next few weeks hassling the CCH members for more contributions and I am, of course, open to suggestions from our visitors.
New features:
The CCH site now has a message board where co-op-related messages, announcements and cries for help can be posted for the public to read. -> Check it out.
Also, co-op members listen up ! If you don't have your own website, don't forget our offer to put up a page about your co-op on the CCH site. -> Find out more.
Iris
International Conference on Housing Co-ops
21 January 2000
23rd to 25th March 2000, Normandy Hotel, Renfrew, Glasgow
organized by the Scottish Community Ownership Housing Forum
and the Confederation of Co-operative Housing.
More information
New edition of the CCH Bulletin out now
It's finally out - the pre-millennium edition! This time in Acrobat pdf format.
Welcome to the Year 2000
16 January 2000
...and hopefully a year where this website will become more lively. University and work are still keeping me from putting as much time into this website as I'd love to and awareness of the online world is still a bit mal-nourished among housing co-ops. All this will change through the coming year. Slowly maybe, but surely.
In the meantime, we have added two documents to the site:
- UK Co-operative Council, Confederation of Co-operative Housing. Joint response to the Institute for Public Policy Research consultation document "Social Housing in the 21st Century" (October 1999)
- Confederation of Co-operative Housing. Response to the Housing Corporation papers: 'Options for Community Housing' and 'Community Training & Enabling'
Iris
Your own page on the CCH website
6 November 1999
The chance for all housing co-ops to gain a presence on the web. If you don't have your own website, internet connection or even computer, but want to let the growing internet community know about your co-op, email (webmaster@cch.coop) or phone (0161 226 5497) me and I'll tell you how your co-op can have its own page on the CCH site.
Iris
Website re-structured - Help make this *your* site
4 November 1999
I am finally getting around to the long overdue update and re-design (feedback welcome). Unfortunately work and study don't leave me enough time to keep this site as lively as I'd like to. So... I'd like to enlist your help. Send me news items as you come across them, contribute to this site, let us know your opinion about one of the issues concerning housing co-ops and alternative living, email me at webmaster@cch.coop with your stories and news alerts.
Iris
Tenants Taking Control
20 September 1999
My apologies for the delay. The Policy Document 'Tenants Taking Control' is now online.
Iris
CCH Conference 24th - 26th September 1999
14 September 1999
The program for the conference has been updated.
For those of you who have not received a mail out and may wish to attend the conference, please contact the CCH office immediately.
CCH 6th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
17 July 1999
24th 26th September 1999
The International Co operative College, Stanford Hall, Loughborough
Keynote speakers
- Hilary Armstrong MP, the Housing Minister
- Baroness Dean, Chair of the Housing Corporation
- Lord Graham of Edmonton, Chairman of the United Kingdom Co operative Council (UKCC)
- Jenny Jones MP, the Chair of the All Party Political Group on Housing Co ops
The public launch of the Confederation of Co-operative Housing's policy document, formed from extensive consultation within the housing co-operative movement.
Written by tenants, for tenants.
The Annual General Meeting of the London Federation of Housing Co-ops
17 June 1999
...is taking place on Saturday 26 June at 11am. The venue is London Voluntary Services Council at 356 Holloway Road, London. This will be followed by a forum on social inclusion. Jean Whitehead of the Co-operative Party will be attending as a speaker.
For more information, contact Alan Sheerins, 191 High Street, Brentford, Middx. TW8 8LB, tel 0181 560 9729. Email alan@lfhc.freeserve.co.uk
LFHC, along with CWS and the Co-operative Party, are setting up a London Regional Co-operative Council. London is the only region of England which will not have a regional development agency, and currently lacks the "shadow" regional co-operative council, which other regions have set up. It is thought that Social Enterprise London will also be significantly involved in the council.
The Appeal of the CCH Conference
5 April 1999
The 1999 annual CCH conference will be held at the Co-operative College, Stanford Hall, near Loughborough on 24-26 September.
Guest speakers will include housing minister Hilary Armstrong MP, Lord Graham of Edmonton, Chair of the UKCC, Brenda Dean, Chairman of the Housing Corporation and Jenny Jones MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on housing co-ops.
We are planning workshops in three strands to accommodate the desire expressed at the last conference for more practical, day-to-day workshop topics as well as ones on the major issues facing the movement.
The CCH annual conference continues to grow, improve and impress, along with the CCH as a whole. To continue to do this, the CCH recognises that new activists are vital.
Plans have been made for a "New Delegate's Initiation" to help newcomers to the CCH and explain the housing co-op and wider movement generally.
If you have any ideas about workshops or what to tell new delegates, contact CCH, or Andy Moran at Mushroom Housing Co-op, 42 Bishops Road, Itchen, Southampton SO19 2FB.
Andy Moran
Demonstrating the Benefits of Housing Co-ops
5 April 1999
The CCH Policy and Research sub-group is running a number of projects to promote the case for housing co-ops.
Everyone involved in housing co-ops is aware of the benefits, but the sub-group aims to present evidence to back this up. The sub-group is directing research, initiated by the CCH, into three areas of crucial importance for existing and future co-ops :
Tenant Participation and Control: This will look at the mechanisms co-ops use to involve their members and look at the advantages that co-ops have over other housing providers at encouraging tenant participation.
Policy and Procedure Directory: The sub-group is carrying out a comprehensive survey of housing co-ops to find out what policies and procedures they employ. Rather than recommend best practice, the sub-group's findings will enable co-ops to examine a range of policies and make informed decisions about what might be suitable for them.
Service Agreements: Co-ops use a variety of organisations to provide management services and this research will examine what kind of services are offered by managing agents.
The research will be supervised by a "steering group", which includes DETR, the Housing Corporation and the New Economics Foundation and will be chaired by Prof David Clapham of Cardiff University. Funding will come from the CCH's grant from the National Lottery Charities Board.
The research should prove to be of direct use to co-ops and will also help to promote the co-operative housing model.
The sub-group recently published a consultation paper outlining the case for housing co-ops and suggesting a strategy to promote the development of the co-operative model. The paper, entitled "Tenants Taking Control: Housing co-operatives and tenant-controlled housing" stresses the track record of housing co-ops in providing sustainable and effectively managed housing at low rents. It also points to the role co-ops play in combating social exclusion through the regeneration of run-down areas and through the capacity-building of their members. The paper suggests ways in which co-ops might work with other agencies to encourage the development of existing and potential co-ops. The paper will be circulated not only throughout the co-operative housing movement but to all agencies that we need to influence, as well as the government.
The sub-group does meet to review its work but meetings are infrequent as the sub-group conducts much of its work by e-mail. Contact the CCH by telephone or e-mail if you would like to get involved.
Phil Beardmore, Policy and Research sub-group
Early Day Motion 215 on Housing Co-operatives - Has Your MP Signed?
5 April 1999
The CCH warmly welcomes the publication of Early Day Motion (EDM) 215 on Housing Co-operatives in the House of Commons, brought about by the All Party Political Group on Housing Co-operatives (APPG).
Initiated by Jenny Jones MP, Chair of the APPG, the EDM recognises "the benefits derived from co-operative housing" and welcomes the Housing Corporation's review of the Housing Co-op Strategy.
Already signed by a large body of MPs, the EDM is attracting significant interest.
All housing co-op members are urged to write to their MP to ensure that they have signed.
Nic Bliss
