We plan to create a cohousing community in West Yorkshire, for people who want a co-operative and self-responsible life style for their later years. Our community will support members to grow older together, to “age in place” safely and enjoyably. The community will include 12 – 20 homes with shared facilities such as a large dining room, recreation areas, laundry, workshops and gardens. There will be a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability.

We want to engage local people’s interest and involvement in the LifeTime project, so that we remain part of the wider community. We will be a model of a supportive and accessible age-in-place community, encouraging other older people to consider such projects for themselves. We shall raise the profile of this kind of housing project with policy makers and service providers.

You can contact us via the contact form link above. See below for more information about the Lifetime Community Project.

Vivarium is for people who choose to live in a positive, co-operative and responsible manner with family, friends, neighbours and the environment.

Recent research shows that housing options for older people are limited and do not meet the needs of a population who are increasingly active, and who are seeking to retain their full cognitive faculties for as long as possible whilst wishing to enjoy a sense of dignity and self worth. It is against this backdrop that Vivarium was born.

The pilot project will be for older people who recognise the difficulties of living in rural areas. These are people who will choose to live in a co-operative fashion and continue to contribute in a meaningful way to society. Vivarium members hope to remain active and involved in life for as long as possible, not simply to be provided for and be dependent upon health care support mechanisms.

• Vivarium membership groups will be self managing and members will be involved in the decision making process throughout.
• Vivarium members will have a desire to live in a co-operative manner, sharing resources thus going someway to alleviating problems of food and fuel poverty.
• Communal areas are integral to the concept of cohousing, providing areas where residents can meet and feel part of the community.
• This concept can be applied inter- generationally and to any "common interest groups".

For more information, please visit our website or contact Hugh Hoffman, Vice Chairman, The Vivarium Trust on 01337-831403. E-mail Hugh via his contact form.

The Older Women’s Cohousing (OWCH) Group in London intends to build a mutually supportive community for women over fifty in High Barnet, North London. They have a site there and this will be developed by the Hanover housing association as part of its senior cohousing initiative. The project is being designed by PTE architects and planning permission is currently being sought. OWCH combines prospective purchasers, shared owners and affordable renters and will work with Housing for Women, a housing association, to manage the rental units. The group meets each month in north London and women interested in the project are encouraged to get in touch via the OWCH website.