Below is a series of interviews with some of the people that helped found some of the early co-operatives, some of the people that helped found CCH, and those who have been working with the movement to promote co-operative housing in the UK.
To watch the videos full screen, click on the arrow in the bottom right hand corner and click the full screen icon.
Our thanks go to Martina Schmuecker from Brandrams Housing Co-operative for working on this project with us!
We will continue to create more videos during the International Year, watch this space!
Jane Campbell
Various housing co-ops
Jane is a writer and poet. In the 1990s, she lived in housing co-operatives in London such as PUNK in Newham and went on to represent her co-operative within the umbrella organisation Newham Community Housing.
She was part of founding X-Rays, a lesbian and gay housing co- operative in Newham, and helped create and run co-operative housing for LGBTQ+ people in the Tilbury docks area London in the 1990s. After living in London, she moved to a rural housing co-operative in West Wales.
Jane continues to advocate for co-operative housing and low impact living.
Khalid Mair
Imani Housing Co-operative
Khalid is a founder member of Imani Housing Co-operative, a housing co-operative dedicated to serving the Afro-Caribbean community in Wandsworth, London.
Over the years, he has played a crucial role in organising and maintaining Imani Housing Co-operative, and is passionate about the co-operative model of housing.
Khalid also provides executive support for BME London Landlords, a collaboration of 13 BME led housing associations in London. Khalid has been active in working for communities and social housing policy in London for the last 40 years.
Maureen Corbishley
Mile End Housing Co-operative
Maureen has been a member of Mile End Housing Co-operative in London since 1977, becoming involved with the co-operative movement through her experience as a squatter.
As well as raising her family in the co-operative, Maureen has been actively involved in the running of Mile End from the very beginning, taking on various roles such as Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
Currently, Maureen is working with the Membership group on policies and so contributes to the day to day running of the co-operative.
Charlie Baker
Formerly Homes for Change Housing Co-operative
Charlie is a co-founder of Homes for Change Housing Co-operative in Manchester, where his path into architecture and housing activism began after leaving university in 1986. Living in Hulme’s Crescents at the time, he saw both the flaws and the ambitions of post-war public housing. This experience pushed him to search for ways to create better homes for people in the area.
The founding of Homes for Change followed: an ambitious design for a housing co-operative in Hulme. Despite setbacks and compromises, the project became a landmark for participatory housing design and continues to provide homes for people in the area.
Charlie also became involved through Concerned Co-operators to work with others across the country to found CCH in 1994. He further helped pioneer models like Community Gateway and continues to promote co-operative housing in Manchester and beyond. His current work on retrofitting old buildings with Red Co-operative aims to improve buildings through the development of climate friendly and energy efficient design solutions for older housing stock.
Margaret Cope
Paddock Housing Co-operative
Margaret is a founding member of Paddock Housing Co-operative in Walsall.
Together with her husband Leslie, she joined a local initiative to create better housing for their family. They succeeded against initial scepticism, underestimating her and the group’s knowledge and determination.
Over the years, she has played a crucial role in organising and maintaining Paddock Housing Co-operative.
Margaret continues to passionately advocate for housing co-operatives, helping others to set up other co-ops and speaking at conferences.
Brian O’Hare
North West Housing Services
Brian has been involved in co-operative housing in Liverpool since the 1980s. As a Labour Councillor, he played a pivotal role in the planning and build of Huyton Housing Co-operative for the Elderly, which now provides 59 flats and bungalows for couples and individuals over the age of 65. Brian has led the Co-operative as Chair since 1986.
Additionally, Brian is Chair of North West Housing Services, an organisation providing services and advice to co-operatives. Despite funding challenges, Huyton has thrived, offering affordable housing and community facilities to its members. Huyton has had a positive impact on residents’ lives, resulting in better health outcomes and longer lives for its members, fostering a sense of belonging.
Helen Russell
Two Piers Housing Co-operative
Helen is a member of Two Piers Housing Co-operative in Brighton. After her early experiences in short-life co-operatives and squatting in Brixton during the 1970s, she moved into Two Piers in Brighton in 1987.
Helen is a long-standing advocate and pioneer of co-operative housing in the city, and has played key roles locally and nationally in supporting the co-operative movement through the National Federation of Housing Co-operatives, and through the Concerned Co-operators worked with others across the country to found CCH in 1994.
Helen helped to establish CHIBAH (Co-operative Housing in Brighton and Hove) and continues to represent housing co-ops in citywide and national forums. Her work has been instrumental in promoting co-operative housing, influencing local housing policy, supporting and sustaining the spirit and practicalities of co-operatives for over four decades.
Richard Pearl
Formerly South Camden Housing Co-operative
Richard lived in South Camden Housing Co-operative from 1983 to 2022 and contributed to the co-operative in his roles as a Treasurer and Chair over the years.
He worked for both Kilburn and Cyron Housing Co-operatives from 1986 to 1990. While working for Seymour Housing Co-operative in Marylebone from 1990 to 2003, he co-managed a project to convert 8 derelict houses to 28 flats.
A former member of the CCH General Council, Richard sees co-operatives as efficient in maintenance and value for money, but noted challenges in property allocation and complaint handling. He would like to see an increase in co-operative housing to address high housing costs.