About Us
Basic Information
We are one of the largest housing co-operatives in the UK situated on a single site.
Our properties are predominantly houses of multiple occupancy for single people comprising of:
- 5x four-person houses
- 6x six-person houses
- 1x nine-person house
- 1x ten-person house
- 1x two-person house
- 8x one-person flats
Democratic
We are a democratic organisation based on the principle of one member, one vote. We agree on our working practices and policies together, and we make decisions collectively in monthly community meetings.
You can read more about our democracy on our wiki and you will find a list of all of our Policies here.
Who are we ?
We are a community of individuals working together to control our own housing
We are a jointly owned democratic enterprise
Joining ASH Co-op is not only about becoming a tenant, it's about being a member of a co-operatively run housing business.
Co-operative
We are a co-operative organisation which means that we define ourselves by our application of the values and principles of co-operation.
Mutual Aid
We are also a mutual aid organisation - the idea that by working together and supporting each other, we can achieve more than we could individually.
This is a core principle of co-operative organisations and is reflected in our commitment to fostering a sense of sustainable community and promoting social responsibility.
Our Principles
We share our principles with those of the International Co-operative Movement. - a set of seven principles that are the guiding ethics of co-operative organisations dating back to the foundation of the modern cooperative movement.
- We are owned and operated by our members
- Members participate in decision-making through a system of one member, one vote
- The rent money paid by members is used for the benefit of the co-operative
- We are autonomous and independent which means are not a subsidiary of any other organisation
- We provide education and training to our members and the wider community about co-operatives and how to run them
- We co-operate with other co-operatives to strengthen the co-operative movement
- We have Social Responsibility
Our Values
Extrapolated from the seven co-operative principles are these core values which we also share. We think that if they were more universally applied, the world could be a very different place.
- Caring for others
- Democracy
- Equity
- Equality
- Honesty
- Openness
- Self help
- Self responsibility
- Solidarity
- Social responsibility