Showcasing a new mutual model to the world

United Nations International Year of Co-operatives logo

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) was proud to deliver the only specific housing workshop at the Co-operatives United conference held in Manchester last week.

Co-operatives United was an inspiring global festival of events and exhibitions to mark the close of the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives.

The RBH workshop was chaired by David Rodgers, President of the International Co-operative Alliance Housing, and gave delegates the opportunity to hear a question and answer session in which tenant and employee members of RBH were asked about their role in developing the new mutual. The workshop was attended by around 30 people involved in housing co-operatives from as far field as Canada, Sweden and Pakistan.

Andrew Johnson, RBH tenant member and workshop participant, said: “It was really special to be able to share our experience with, and talk to, people involved in housing co-ops from across the world.”

Tony Dempsey, RBH employee member and workshop participant, added: “The workshop went really well with lots of interesting and informed questions from the audience to us. There were also lots of suggestions from audience members of ideas we should look at and organisations we could learn from. We made some really useful connections from the future.”