Speaker: Josef Davies-Coates

About: Open Co-op

Aim is to use communications technologies (chat, voice IP) to network the pioneers of the social economy and inspiring examples of volunteer groups. Organised a conference (open space) at 491 Gallery, self-organising, techie type affair. Met Gary who had written a book ("eGaia") on kick-starting the green economy, using IT to link up all green enterprises, social economy groups, etc.

[The concept behind the Open Co-op:] Ebay combined with online networking (Tribe); however these are run for the benefit of venture capitalists. Create a similar platform, with open software, run for the benefit of the community and stakeholders. Build relationships of trust online, offer goods and services, buy stuff online (e.g. using Paypal equivalent). Inspired by websites like: "Up my Street" and "My society" which have with listings of all local services in the area. Decided to start the Open Co-op.

What have we done: Developed a communications platform blueprint for a Virtual online social economy. We have the interface for what it might look like, how you might use it. Also a CD called tools for change, with numerous freeware tool and information. 3 founders are working on different areas: Open food co-op (Gary) with matching up communities with food producers; Tom: virtual organisational platform, form partnerships online, enact processes on how the organisation is run; Me: Creative regeneration network: Share contacts and knowledge between a core group who want to work to purchase property (at the moment all social centres have short-leases or are squats) thus make the social economy sustainable, linking it all together. Lot of stuff does already exist, but it needs the glue. Idea of open Co-op is to set up Community Support Providers (CSP) (like SELEDA) Network together social enterprises, green businesses and co-ops in the area so that they can meet, trade and support one another. For example, two groups: 142 and 491 Gallery round the corner from each other: one needed tires for an earthship, the other had loads; they eventually met up. CSP to map who is in the area: already being done by London21, Radical Routes, Social Enterprise London, etc. People who care about the world in the majority now (according to study) but if asked, people don’t think anyone thinks like them. We have the tools, bikes, for the world we want. With Creative regeneration we aim to create community-owned infrastructure (green logistics, communications, renewable energy) by bringing together the pieces in the puzzle: Land, Communications (WiFi, open software), Renewable energy.

Features of the platform: Google Earth-type interface: go where you want. Trust Network: friends Local Community homepage: subscribe to feeds, decide what news you want to view. Trading: Products will have the real and monetary costs, ecological footprint, time in labour, conditions of that labour. Skills exchange. Tasks lists: open, delegate, share calendars. People are scored on Wisdom, Heart, etc.

How do you get people to get involved? Create a value proposition: how it will benefit them. For creative regeneration: had to use creative licence to interest people in it. Showing people that you can save them money and time; start offering free, powerful tools that can do both. Mark from the Hub: flexible open-plan workspace in Angel, which has Triodos and also smaller groups working for social change. There is a flexible membership structure e.g. Hub Unlimited, you get a permanent desk; with Hub Connection, get pay-as-you-go top-ups; already at capacity, very successful. Starting Synergy Hub (Camberwell), Brentford Hub, Glasgow Hub, will eventually have shared communications infrastructure (e.g. emails, phone numbers will follow you as you move around). Make sustainable living easy. For the website using Tiki-Wiki, content management programme. However, we don’t use it as much we could; we have pushed tools to the limits of their use, want to push further.