Radical Routes
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2015) |
| Formation | 1 April 1992 |
|---|---|
| Type | Cooperative federation |
| Purpose | Social change |
| Services | Moneylender, Mutual aid |
| Fields | Activism |
| Website | radicialroutes.org.uk |
Radical Routes is a United Kingdom-based cooperative federation. The organisation provides mutual aid and lends money to housing, worker co-operatives and social centres. Members of the network share information about social change.
History
Radical Routes emerged in 1986 from a network of people in London and Hull who wanted to develop workers' co-operatives.[1] The original house in Hockley was set up as the 'New Education Housing Co-op'.[2]
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 is described as "peer-group loan appraisal").
Radical Routes publishes booklets on subjects such as how to set up a housing co-operative, how to set up a worker co-operative and how to work out your ecological footprint. The publication are available free of charge, either as a download or in print.
With Cooperatives UK they launched proposals for an independent cooperative 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.
Members
Member co-operatives are expected to commit to a share of Radical Routes' workload as volunteers, and work toward radical social change.[3]
Housing co-operatives
- Coventry Peace House
- Keveral Farm
Workers co-operatives
- Footprint Workers Co-op
Social centres
Affiliations
Radical Routes has an ethical investment arm called Rootstock. In the summer of 2011 Radical Routes agreed to join the federation of UK co-operatives called Cooperatives UK.
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Albery, Nicholas (1992). The Book of Visions: An Encyclopaedia of Social Innovations. Virgin. ISBN 9780863696015. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ Nicholson, Patrick. "Radical Routes". Peace News. Retrieved 24 April 2015.