CASH is committed to the co-operative movement as a vehicle for radical social change. Historically and today, co-operatives are at the forefront of addressing crises from housing to the environment - and we know from experience that they're great places to live and work! We seek to mainstream this economic model in the UK, spreading agency, collective power, and sustainability.
How did it all begin?
CASH was founded in 2019 by people who had felt the benefits of the co-operative movement, and knew expanding it was the key to social change in their community. We established a CLT to meet this goal, growing a reach beyond our individual networks, attracting people new to the co-operative movement. We built a set of shared values and created an organisation where every member has an equal say, all contributing to making it a reality!
How is CASH organised?
We operate using consent-based decision making also known as sociocracy . We are run through tri-weekly General Meetings. This is where our working groups, also known as circles, report on their ongoing work, propose projects and policy changes they wish to implement within CASH. Sociocracy offers a structured way of running meetings, streamlining decision-making and distributing responsibilities. Each member is a part of at least one circle which are vehicles for carrying out our agenda in a spirit of transparency and collaboration. CASH also has a Board made of the members which ensures due diligence and coherence of our actions as a community-led organisation. We also occasionally co-opt members to our board to support with specific matters.
What are the circles in CASH and what do they do?
Communication coordinates internal information channels to bring members closer together via our cloud. The circle manages communication with our supporters, social media and supports other co-ops with web cloud facilities.
Development works with partners to deliver housing projects, currently focusing on refurb and potentially revisiting new build development. The circle has led on site assessment and researching co-housing and other novel approaches to community living.
Finance nurtures responsibility and care in making our ambitious plans feasible. The circle manages ongoing CASH financial operations and oversees funding. It also builds expertise amongst wider membership in raising finance for our projects.
Governance is responsible for creating policies and procedures to ensure fair and transparent organisational practices. The circle supports consent based decision making known as sociocracy.
Outreach & Engagement works with the co-operative and wider community including through Co-op Support Groups and knowledge sharing and social events, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion workshops and our Newsletter
Why are we committed to equity and openness?
CASH membership and activities are open to everyone – more diverse ideas shape better decisions and make us more resilient. However, we understand that it is not enough to just say this. We are working to recognise the diversity of our community members and their needs. Together we aspire to rethink existing co-ops through creating new ones.
Abigail is a Social Entrepreneur, Designer Maker, educator, multi-media visual artist, performer, costume designer in contemporary dance. Co-founder of CASH and Nettleton Road Housing Co-op. I have lived in Nettleton Road Housing Co-op for 40 years (May 2025), initially a shortlife co-op, we bought the 8 houses from Lewisham Council in 1995. Grateful for the life chances NRHC has given me, CASH is a personal response. The collaborative and wonderful community that we are fulfils many of my creative needs post redundancy, pandemic, menopause. My skills are creative, practically and in problem solving, organisation, commitment, drive and a belief in collective people power.
Herta (they/she) is an urban development practicioner (MRTPI) experienced in creating place-based strategies developed through stakeholder engagement and delivered in partnership with local organisations to address community needs. Herta lives in (and loves!) Deptford where they’ve co-founded CASH, the Pie n Mash Mutual Aid Group and have been active in a range of other community-led projects over the years, including living in Sanford Housing Co-op. Within CASH, they are a member of the Board, the Outreach and Engagement and Development Circles.
I am a native Londoner with over 35 years experience of working in non profits. My qualifications include Surveying, Community and Youth Work, Leadership and Management and Leadership Coaching. I have experience of managing multi million pound budgets and that helps me to be the Treasurer for CASH. I believe that CASH provides an exciting opportunity to co produce innovative, inclusive and empowering models of sustainable housing and community support.
Kwang is an mixed-methods researcher and data analyst with experience in policy, urban ethnography and behavioural insights. In CASH, she is developing tools to evaluate diversity and member satisfaction within CASH and partner co-ops. She is currently a Data and Insights Manager for an East London charity. Separately, she is working on research on protecting civic space, and a short film on suburban distribution centres.
Larisa is a London-based digital artisan, educator, and feminist hacker, with a practice ranging from net.art to Free/Libre/Open Source Software (FLOSS) art and design. She is currently focused on exploring the relationship between emerging interactive systems, digital infrastructures and rapidly growing extreme economic inequality. The work with CASH fulfils her aspiration to support community wealth building and economic justice. You can find some of her work at http://e-w-n-s.net.
I am a project manager, development practitioner, land rights advocate and digital media artist. Living in Seasalt Housing Cooperative and collaborating with the Brighton and Hove Community Land Trust changed my understanding of commons in the everyday, and now I cannot imagine living outside of co-ops.
My background is as a public servant in human rights protection and collaborative governance within public administration. As well, I am a long-term practitioner in initiatives around cooperative housing, indigenous rights, land policy and management of commons through community organising.
I seek to build community and collectively owned assets on all fronts. Permanently exploring how to embody decolonial politics in my day-to-day.
Szczepan (he/him) has background in journalism, playwriting, computer science and neuroscience. Secretary of CASH since its inception, proudly serving the initiative with minute-taking, software development and IT support; member of communication and governance circles. Enjoys supporting the co-operative movement in pursuing universally accessible high quality housing in the spirit of community participation. One of the founding members of Moon Housing Co-op where he currently serves as co-chair. Works at Animorph Worker Co-op.
I came to CASH reading about cooperatives in hope of being able to contribute somehow to finding pragmatic solutions for the housing crisis. Since then I have found CASH a continually rewarding and increasingly promising group that builds strength amongst the cooperative community through support sessions, working on a larger model to collectivise assets for the reproduction of more coops and many an exciting side project along the way.
Find out how we put our principles and skills into practice through a shared vision!
