Survey results

Earlier this year we had an online survey 'How close to achieving cohousing are you?' intended to find out where people had got to and what Brighton Cohousing might do to help.
About 110 people on the Brighton Cohousing email list were asked to fill in an online survey. Twenty people replied - this is not a truly representative sample, but it gives a flavour. Of the 20 respondents, 15 are women. Fourteen live alone, 13 live in Brighton and Hove, most of the others in East Sussex. The average age of respondents is 50, but several were speaking for families, so the average age of potential residents would be lower.
Over half would like to live in a rural community, just under half would prefer to live in the city or semi-rural location. Most would like to be in or around Brighton and Hove or the South East generally. Half would prefer a community of 15-35 people; others more, others less. More than half would be ready to move within a year or two.
By far the most common values were to do with environmental issues (including growing food). Sociability and to some extent spiritual issues were also notable interests. Many are talking to others about the idea, quite a few belong to organisations and some visit other communities.
While some people offered to help Brighton Cohousing, the majority seem to be holding on for an actual cohousing project. Lack of a live project is what is holding many back from getting engaged in the process, but so is lack of a model to follow, lack of knowledge for dealing with the issues involved, lack of confidence in the market, and lack of energy. Some are looking for a lead, if not leadership. Some people would welcome more opportunity to meet, especially at various times so they can fit such events into their differing schedules.
The other big issue is, of course, lack of money. Only a minority have enough capital to buy outright, so an 'affordable' approach is going to be very important.
Suggestions as to what Brighton Cohousing could do include:

• improve the information on the website
• develop the newsletter
• make other opportunities for people meet and to talk about the issues
• seek out sources of training
• create a provisional plan for a cohousing community to work from
• provide more of a lead

Partly as a result of this survey we are launching the vision meeting, and trying to increase opportunities for people to meet and get in touch.

We would like to thank Peter Ambrose of Brighton University, Sarka Zikanova and Viki Junor for their help in the survey - and everyone who responded.

Brighton cohousing meetings

• Sat 23 May

Visit Hoathly Hill Community near Forest Row. The Hoathly Hill Community is a long established group of about 27 households and 65 people of all ages, originally based on the ideas of Rudolf Steiner. It is set in 22 acres of residential, horticultural and agricultural land - together they are trying to develop a carbon-neutral life. We have been invited to their Saturday cafe to meet some residents. They can cope with a party of up to 10, so please book with us. Also, parking is limited so we will arrange car sharing.
To book, email Julian at i...@brightoncohousing.org.uk by 16 May (click on the three dots to the left of the @ for full email) - after that we will open it to other interested groups.

• Sat 13 June

Brighton Cohousing project vision meeting
A new start...? Brighton Cohousing has been a networking and learning forum, but so far no firm project has formed out of it. We are trying a new approach. We want to develop a model of a cohousing project and a business plan for carrying it out. First we will create the vision and then build on that. To start the process we are having an open meeting in Brighton on Saturday 13 June, 2 - 4pm in the Red Room at Phoenix Brighton (the arts centre), Waterloo Place, BN2 9NB. This is a large blue building on The Lewis Road, near St Peter's Church at the South end of the Level. We will ask for donations (around £5 depending on what you can afford) to cover costs.
If you would like to be involved in this exciting venture, bring your ideas and your flexibility and let's start! It is a good time to be doing it. Developers are giving up land, loans are available (specially for co-operative housing, see below), housing authorities are keen to encourage affordable housing - and there is a lot of interest amongst people who would like to live in a sustainable community.
Please let us know if you are thinking of coming - we may be sending out some background materials. Email i...@brightoncohousing.org.uk (click on the three dots to the left of the @ for full email)

Loans for housing co-ops

Triodos Bank and Co-operative & Community Finance have launched a joint loan package for housing co-ops, lending up to 95% of the capital required at reasonable interest rates. A cohousing project could well have a co-operative structure. See www.icof.co.uk