Solution: PA Cooperative helped organise the Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Co-operatives at the Scottish Parliament, which provides a platform for MSPs and others to increase awareness of the co-operative model and its contribution to Scotland’s social and economic development. PA Cooperative suggested taking evidence from successful housing co-ops at a CPG meeting to kick-start an inquiry into housing co-ops in Scotland, leading to a report.
Result: PA Cooperative conducted research into housing co-ops across the UK, then visited successful housing co-ops in Scotland to conduct interviews and take photographs. This real-life evidence of the economic and social impact of housing co-ops was published by the CPG in a report, Shared Space: How Housing Co-ps Build Communities
Testimonial: “PA Cooperative helped reinvigorate the Cross Party Group on Co-operatives and their idea to produce the Shared Space report really helped push housing co-ops up the Scottish policy agenda. It meant high-quality research and case studies went into the hands of MSPs who grasped this agenda enthusiastically. It led to time in the Scottish Parliament schedule to debate the importance of housing co-ops and how they make a real difference to people’s lives. PA Cooperative helped us influence public policy in Scotland in a positive, tangible way.”
Ed Mayo, Secretary General,
Co-operatives UK