Business in the Community Jan van der Bij

Let’s have a look at… People power and financial sustainability What is a community business Impact of community business in UK and Holland Examples Community business and ageing Conclusion

3 Het hart van de samenleving

People Power Is not: informing the public of a govt agenda Is not: engaging the public in govt decision making Is not: public participation Is: taking your life in your own hands Is: making people power sustainable Is: govt facilitates people/community initiatives Is: govt participation

Oxford Cycle Workshop

What is a Community Business Economic, physical, social development of an area Owned and managed by the community Self-supporting business Co-operation between residents(organisations), local authority, amenities and businesses Succesful, profitable, viable, profits ploughed back into the community

Impact of the Community Business movement in the UK National movement Specific legal structure: community interest company Sustainable solution: example – 97% of the 274 community owned shops ticks A variety of options a.o. emission of shares Common: running local amenities

Brixton Green development by the community of a large neglected site on Somerleyton Road in Brixton, South London Spatial planning Creative businesses Public amenities Family housing

Cybermoor community owned and built network of fibre optic cable for fast broadband internet in remote and rural Cumbria (Alston Moor)

Tutbury Eco Power a group of local residents in Tutbury, Staffordshire (between Birmingham and Nottingham) aiming to install a hydro-electric plant on a weir

The Hudswell Pub Hudswell, North Yorkshire, community shares to buy and re-open the local pub (bankrupt and for sale), The George and Dragon

Natural Food Store Headingly, Leeds, owner of popular and pivotal shop wants to retire and close up, with 200 shares the community took over the shop

Community Business in The Netherlands People power and models of financial sustainability Manifesto of active residents (2011) Govt: Development Trust also in the Netherlands Pilot with the Dept. of Internal Affairs And this is only the beginning…!

Swimming pool De Zwaoi, Community Business

Care Co-operative Hoogeloon residents of the village of Hoogeloon (Netherlands, Brabant) founded their own care company, making it possible for people who need care to remain in the community and breeding and strengthening social cohesion and solidarity

Where do ageing and Community Business meet? Elderly people living on their own need: Good infrastructure, roads, transport, fast internet People power and networks Community businesses like: a communal vegetable garden, a swimming pool, a care co-operative …to be in control, to be needed, e.g. in the board of a community business or people power initiative

So….. We have seen: The might of people power The new role of govt and authorities: govt participation Financial sustainability of people power The viability of community businesses Elderly people profit from community enterprise

18 People Power and Community Business: there is a world to win