HOUSING, designed and managed by residents themselves, is the subject of a series of roadshows touring Scotland this summer, and touching down in Edinburgh on the 15th June.
Launched in Kirkwall – last month – the upcoming venues include Inverkeithing, Glasgow and Lenzie.
The roadshows are the brainchild of Cohousing Scotland, the national Cohousing umbrella organisation. It is part of a ’Places Called Home’ initiative, funded by IKEA and The National Lottery Community Fund (https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/places-called-home).
Cohousing projects are run by their members. Residents look out for each other, enjoy shared common spaces but have their own, self-contained homes. Cohousing communities often have a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and ecological design.
Cohousing Scotland convener, Andrew Prendergast, said: “We want more people in Scotland to know about Cohousing and all it has to offer.
“Currently, housing provision centres on the commercial developer-led private sector, on the one hand, and state-led social provision on the other. We believe it is time to look to new and innovative ways to solve our country’s housing crisis.”
He continued: “Cohousing Scotland sees a future where Cohousing is part of a thriving, community-led housing movement in Scotland – now is the time for change.
Each of the upcoming locations (Inverkeithing June 7, Glasgow June 9, Edinburgh June 15 and Lenzie June 22), follows broadly the same format: an afternoon drop-in session, for information about wider housing issues, followed by an evening panel discussion featuring expert panellists.
During the arfternoon, a team of young architects from the ‘Imagine If’ collective will host an interactive game session, exploring what ‘home’ means and what our living spaces could look like in the future.
The roadshow is a free, open event. Register for a place, here: Tuesday 7 June: Inverkeithing, Fife – Civic Centre, Queen Street, Inverkeithing KY11 1PA. Format: Drop-in: 2.30pm to 5pm, Panel discussion: 7pm to 8.30pm. Book via https://clach7june.eventbrite.co.uk
Thursday 9 June: Glasgow – Quaker Meeting House, 38 Elmbank Crescent, Glasgow G2 4PS. Format still to be agreed, possibly no drop-in session (be advised), Panel discussion: 7.00pm to 8.30pm. Book via https://clach9june.eventbrite.co.uk
Wednesday 15 June: Edinburgh – Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL + ONLINE. Format: Drop-in: 4pm to 5.30pm, Panel discussion: 7.00pm to 8.30pm.
Book via https://clach15june.eventbrite.co.uk
Wednesday 22 June: Lenzie – Golf Club, 19 Crosshill Road, Lenzie, Glasgow G66 5DA. Format: Drop in: 3.30pm to 5.30pm, Panel discussion: 7.00pm to 8.30pm. Book via https://clach22june.eventbrite.co.uk