On Tuesday 14th November a networking event for co-ops around the Stirchley area was held at Artefact café, Pershore Rd. Over a dozen co-ops of one type or another were represented – including local housing co-ops and work co-ops, a film-showing co-op, the Church of England land rental organisation and the Central England Co-op. The prospective Labour candidate for Stirchley was also in attendance.
The gentrification of Stirchley was felt to be an issue, as was the failure of one council-granted land developer to develop affordable homes.
People at the meeting agreed that more networking events would be a good idea. There was an intention to produce a list of attendees and their organisations, and what they could contribute to a network of co-operatives – i.e. to each other.
A representative of the Federici housing co-op suggested that I get in touch with a Community-Led Housing group that has started to meet at Birmingham Impact Hub.
Cohousing West Midlands 