Creative Regeneration (London)The Creative Regeneration group is a mutual support network that brings together many of London's leading eco, community and arts based regeneration projects to share knowledge, expertise, resources and best practice.Networking meetings and Open Space events will be held roughly once a month in venues around London. The meetings will act both as an informal networking opportunity, and a space to propose and gather momentum for specific projects. An initial working group of the network will focus on purchasing a large run-down property in London in order to transform it into a thriving housing co-operative and eco-centre for art, culture and social enterprise. We are also working on a replicable funding model for similar mixed-use (eco/community/live/work) initiatives. Mailing list: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/creativeregen - join the list now to get involved! Tribe: http://tribes.tribe.net/creativeregen - from those who use tribe.net Meeting Minutes: Creative Regen July 30th Creative Regen Sept 17th
Launch Event on Saturday July 30thA meeting to be held at The Hub on Saturday July 30th, 12pm - 4pmSupported by Community Development Banking, NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland Agenda, July 30th, 2005Time: 12pm to 4pm (registration and drinks from 11am)Place: The Hub, 5 Torrens Street, London EC1 1NQ Map: http://tinyurl.com/67wff Intent: To bring people together who have similar ideas and motivations regarding radical and cooperative use of property in London - and, to see what emerges! Focusing Question: Should we be collaborating? Tone and Principles: Open, flexible, exploratory Approach: World Café. Method for open, deep, group dialogue Timetable: 11am Registration 12pm Introductions with drinks 1pm World café: Should we be collaborating? 2.30pm Break 3 pm Feedback and group dialogue 4 pm Check out, next steps Context
Instinct
Questions
Inspiring Case StudiesSome inspiring stories...Deli-DollarsAfter conducting research into how successful entrepreneurs have succeeded in raising the necessary finance to start-up their business, The Schumacher Society in the USA launched SHARE - The Self-Help Association for a Regional Economy. They had discovered that the most common route to finance was via a bank loan secured by a wealthy relative or friend. Therefore SHARE would allow people to deposit money into a collective SHARE account, and the money would be used to provide collateral for loans to member-approved projects.One day the owner of a local deli and cafe approached SHARE for a loan. He wanted to re-locate his local deli from one place to another, but couldn't get a loan from the bank to finance the move. But the members of SHARE said that SHARE couldn't help... They told him that he didn't need their “network of surrogate grannies” because he already had a network of customers. He could simply ask his customers to purchase ten “Deli-Dollars” for ten dollars as a way to finance the move. These Deli-Dollars would be accepted for food and drink in the newly re-located deli once enough money for the move had been raised. They would also have staggered “use-after” dates, so that all the money didn't have to paid back at the same time. The owner of the deli agreed that is was an excellent idea, but decided to offer his customers ten Deli-Dollars for $8 since he thought that was a fairer deal. A local artist was commission to design the Deli-Dollar notes, and within a week enough money had been raised for the move - customers were very happy to support the deli simply by buying $10 worth of food in the future for only $8 now. Radical RoutesRadical Routes, a network of housing co-ops, workers co-ops and social centres committed to positive social change, grew from a small group of independent co-operatives which developed in the 1980s. The group organised "Taking Control Events" in various parts of the country on how to take control of housing and work by setting up co-operatives.In 1988 the network took on the name "Radical Routes" and began holding quarterly gatherings. These weekend events have a social function, but are also the places at which all important decisions are taken. They are open meetings and anyone is welcome to attend. A secondary co-operative, Radical Routes Ltd, was set up in 1992 which made it possible to raise investment centrally through a national investment scheme. In 1998, this idea was taken a stage further with the establishment of Rootstock Ltd. Previously, Radical Routes raised investment mostly in the form of "loan stock" and long term loans which had to be repaid on agreed dates. This was very successful, raising over £400,000. However, substantial sums of money had to be set aside for repayments, and this limited the money available to lend to co-ops. There were also legal restrictions on how often loan stock could be issued. Rootstock does not have these limitations. Because investment is in the form of shares, there is no need for a fixed final repayment date. Instead, the shares are normally withdrawable subject to a period of notice. So a higher proportion of the money can be lent out to co-ops. Also, there are currently no restrictions on how often withdrawable shares can be issued, so people can invest when they please. As shareholders, investors are members of Rootstock Ltd and have a say in the running of the organisation. All in all, Rootstock shares provide greater flexibility for investors and greater benefit to co-ops. Isle of Gigha Heritage TrustWhen the Hebridean island of Gigha was put up for sale in August 2001, a steering group of islanders put forward the radical idea of a community buy-out.Three years later, the island is in community ownership and social and economic decline has been reversed. For the first time in many years, the population is increasing, new businesses have been created and new houses are on site. In a secret ballot in 2001, the community buy-out proposal was supported by 76 per cent of the islanders. The Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust (IGHT) was set up and the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) was approached for a small grant to develop proposals for the future of the 3,400-acre island. In seven weeks the Trust produced a feasibility study and business plan, which was overwhelmingly approved by fellow residents, and submitted a bid to the SLF for funding to buy the island. Convinced by the arguments, the Lottery-backed fund put £3.5 million towards the purchase price of £4.15 million. The owner deferred £150,000 of the purchase price for a year and a grant of £500,000 from Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE) made up the balance. £1 million of the SLF money was in the form of a loan, repayable by March 2004. Along with the deferred payment, it was paid on time. Only two years later, the fund’s faith in the islanders’ vision of mutual ownership has been rewarded. After years of decline, uncertainty and neglect by some of the absentee landlords –7 in the previous 20 years - community stewardship is having a profound impact. The island’s population has grown to 123, the school roll has risen from 6 to 14 and the waiting list of people who want move to the island is growing. Already, new businesses have started, 6 privately owned houses are on site and a local housing association has started work on 18 homes. The £1 million repaid to the Lottery has been recycled to help other rural communities eager to follow in the footsteps of the people of Gigha. Most of the money was raised through the sale of the ‘Big House’, the main residence on the island, for £640,000. The Trust’s most ambitious project to date, Scotland's first community-owned wind farm, began generating electricity in October 2004. Sales of electricity from three 40-metre turbines are expected to yield up to £140,000-a-year, paying for their own upkeep, eventual replacement and funding development projects on the island. Gigha Renewable Energy Ltd, a new company, limited by shares, runs the £400,000 project. With customary Scottish prudence, it has bought three second-hand 225 kilowatt turbines, which were dismantled on their site in Cumbria and rebuilt on the island. The Trust owns 41 of the 67 houses on the island and took an early decision not to sell any of them. Residents who were tenants of the previous landowner are now tenants of the Trust. Before buy out, only one house had been added to the island’s housing stock in 34 years. The housing stock, generally, had been badly neglected. The island saw a housing sea change in 2004. Work began on a £3 million housing improvement programme funded by a housing improvement grant and 20-year loans. Meanwhile, Fyne Homes Housing Association is building 18 new homes, 16 for rent and 2 for shared ownership on land bought from the Trust for £150,000. Local people or those moving to the island to live and work will be given priority. Income from the sale of the two shared ownership homes will cross-subsidise the cost of the rented homes. The Trust has set up a construction consortium as a joint venture with Fyne Homes and three local builders to carry out the improvements and build the new homes. Building apprenticeships will be created, and a small island quarry will be opened to provide local materials for the work and create new jobs. Who's Coming?Josef Davies-Coates, Co-Founder, uniteddiversity/The Open Co-ophttp://uniteddiversity.com http://open.coopJosef is the Creative Regeneration consultant, researcher, event organiser and bookseller who organised the meeting. In the past he has organised uniteddiversity's sessions of spontaneity (live music events), and a series of Open Space Technology events (WTF's The Future?!) at 491 Gallery. His current focus is on building the necessary partnerships needed to launch The London Fund, a community finance and fundraising solution for social enterprise. Money raised through investments in The London Fund will be invested in shared infrastructure:
Tom Salfield, Co-Founder, uniteddiversity/The Open Co-ophttp://www.uniteddiversity.com http://open.coopTom is a co-founder of uniteddiversity and The Open Co-op. He studied Economics and Philosophy at LSE (where he and Josef met) and is currently working on an online platform for distributed decision-making in organisations, as part of his MSc Computer Science at Imperial. Previously, he has been Web Development Manager at Via3 (http://www.via3.net) and has worked at (the Institute for Social and Ethical) AccountAbility (http://www.accountability.org.uk) and the New Economics Foundation (http://www.neweconomics.org). Oliver Sylvester-Bradley, The Open Co-op/uniteddiversity/Solar Centuryhttp://www.solarcentury.comOli founded Sustainable Development Consultancy Defacto Design (http://www.defactodesign.com) after studying Product Design at St Martin's and getting MSc Architecture: Advanced Environment and Energy Systems at University of East London and the Centre for Alternative Technology (http://www.cat.org.uk). He is co-founder of The Open Co-op, a member of uniteddiversity, and is currently working as Marketing Executive for Solar Century (http://www.solarcentury.com), the UK's leading photovoltaics (PV) company. Jonathan Robinson, Director, The HubMark Hodge, Director, The Hubhttp://www.the-hub.netThe Hub is pretty much what it says on the tin. Jonathan and Mark, with the help of a great team, have succeeded in creating one of London's best shared office spaces, an incubator for progressive and creative ideas. A large percentage of London's leading social enterprises are already members and use the space often. Steve Peake, Director, The Synergy Projecthttp://www.thesynergyproject.orgThe Synergy Project have been putting on large indoor festival-type events in London for the last couple of years. Excitingly, Steve is expecting to pick up the keys to a very large and cheap building in South London on Monday 25th July. The building, which is in good condition throughout, will be transformed into the Synergy Centre for Sustainable Living and Creative Industries. An old version of the Synergy Centre proposal is available here (875kb .pdf) Pete Jones and Angel Benwell, Planet Angelhttp://www.planetangel.netAbout 7 years ago, realising there was more to life than their corporate careers, Pete and Angel started planning to quit their jobs and start organising regular Planet Angel events. Five years on, they now have two regular and well-attended monthly events that have only ever been advertised by word of mouth. The events always include participative art workshops and as such they have built up a unique collection of artwork made by people who have attended the events over the years. The long-term plan has always been to get a permanent space. Gregory Scott-Gurner, Director, The Art Organisationhttp://www.theartorganisation.co.ukGreg is one of the founders of the 491 gallery in Leytonstone (http://491gallery.com), a Sustainable Community Regeneration Art Project. He is currently working on trasforming an old 80ft minesweeper boat that is based in Deptford. The Art Organisation work to introduce arts into the community and specialise in the renovation of derelict and disused properties. David Hees, Project 142http://www.project142.orgDavid is one of the founders and initiators of Project 142 on Lea Bridge Road, together with the rest of the collective known as the Urban Nomads. The successful transfromation of a squatted buiding in Stockwell lead to the group being offered the use of another building owned by the same landlords, in exchange for maintanence and security. However, the landlord now wants them out. They are trying to keep the building, and while they have a quite good case, they recognise that now is a good time to start looking for another property. Toby Lloyd, Policy/Project Manager, London Rebuilding Societyhttp://www.londonrebuilding.comToby did a large amount of the research for the Common Ground report on Community Land Trusts and Mutual Home Ownership, published by the New Economics Foundation (http://www.neweconomics.org) and CDS Co-operatives (http://www.cds.coop). You can download and read the Common Ground report at http://open.coop/background+docs Emily Druiff, Co-founder of Area 10http://www.area10.infoEmily was one of the three people who started Area 10 in Peckham, a very large council-owned warehouse property which has been run a self-organised artists community for the last couple of years. She is now involved with The People Speak (http://www.theps.net), Node London (a Season of Media Arts - http://smal.omweb.org), and other interesting projects. Laura Wirtz, Pogo Cafe/Emmaz Social Centrehttp://www.pogocafe.co.uk http://www.emmaz.org.ukLaura is a founding member of Emmaz Social Centre project and Pogo Cafe, both co-operatives. The idea for Emmaz is to buy a building in order to open a member-owned and run social centre somewhere in London. Having discovered the difficulties of finding and affording a suitable building in London, members of Emmaz decided to get together and open Pogo Cafe, an excellent vegan cafe in Hackney. Emmaz is also a member of the excellent Radical Routes network of co-operatives (http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk) Chris Cook, Open Capitalhttp://www.opencapital.netFormerly director of a petroleum exchange in the city, Chris was one of the first people to recognise the benefits of using the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) structure for innovative and tax-efficient organisational and funding models. He he also on the board of London 21 sustainablitiy network for action in the community (http://www.london21.org). Lorraine Hart, Research & Development Officer, Environment Trusthttp://www.envirotrust.orgThe Environment Trust, based in East London, is one of London's leading Development Trusts, and Lorraine was described to me by Andrew Robinson (Head of Community Developement Banking, NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland) as the "guru of asset-based development". Indeed, she's written the book "Asset Transfer: A Can-Do Guide" for the Development Trust Association (http://www.dta.org.uk and http://www.dtalondon.org.uk ) Nick Holden, Clapton Creative CentreNick started one of London's first multimedia studios (Fish Studios) and went on to launch the company that became London's second biggest computer games developer. With the help of the Creative Industries Developement Agency, he and Dave Rindl have recently been working on the Clapton Creative Centre (see 2 pager here - 48kb .pdf). Nick is also involved in a group looking for land/property for a self-build eco-housing co-op.Jason Hawkes, James Smith and Julie Futcher, J3 Building Futureshttp://www.j3buildingfutures.co.uk/Jason, James and Julie all studied the same MSc Architecture as Oli. They are lovely people and together have considerable experience in all aspects of ecological design, building and renovation. They have recently formed an LLP and have started to build their website. Tom Foxcroft, Affordable Work Space ProjectsShoreditch and Stoke Newington (with Tube carriages!)Tom has two very interesting project on the go. One is a large viaduct and adjacent warehouse on Great Eastern Street (in the heart of Shoreditch) on which he has secured a 7 year lease from the council. Another is an eco-building and sustainable solutions educational project next to the nice big resevouir in Stoke Newington (near that castle where there is a climbing wall). Both the projects involve the innovative use of tube carriages to create affordable work space for artists. Check out the attachments below for some images...
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