Many hands ...
The Co-op depends on the voluntary effort of its members and each member has a responsibility to contribute to the running of the Co-op (from the ASH Co-op membership policy ).
Working Groups
ASH Co-op members are requried to take an active interest in the work of the co-operative and one of the ways to do that is to become involved in one of the many Working Groups that enable us to effectively run our business.
Below is a list of some of the working groups you can be part of. Tap on a heading for more information.
Secretarial
The primary focus of secretarial group is in organising and convening the General Meetings which are our democratic heart. The group is also responsible for managing other administrative tasks, including maintaining records, general governance and ensuring compliance with housing and other regulations.
For a deeper dive into the role of the Co-op Secretary and Secretarial group check out our wiki page.
Governing Documents:
Maintenance
The maintenance group is the first point of contact for members to manage repairs and upkeep of our properties and shared resources. Group members can act as agents for co-op members in terms of physical repairs or agreeing budgets and procuring specialists for other work where required.
Governing Documents:
Asset Management
The Assets Working Group ensures that the co-operative's assets are managed sustainably for the long term. It is important for members to keep track of the physical things that comprise our organisation and plan for the future.
Finance
The finance group manages the co-operative's financial affairs, including budgeting, accounting, and financial planning to ensure the sustainability of the co-operative.
The Treasurer and Finance group keep an eye on the spending of the co-op, working to the budget that the community sets. They also look at our long term financial planning.
Governing Documents:
Support and Wellbeing
The support and wellbeing group focuses on promoting the physical and mental health of co-operative members and the broader community.
The group would also like to channel more of its energies into the emotional wellbeing of members and is always on the lookout for more group members to help provide this support.
Governing Documents:
Allocations
The allocations group is responsible for managing the distribution of housing units within the co-operative, ensuring fair and transparent allocation processes.
Governing Documents:
Development
The Development group looks into projects that we can do together to improve our structures and develop co-ops elsewhere.
Grounds and Gardens
The grounds and gardens group is responsible for maintaining the co-operative's outdoor spaces, including landscaping, lawn care, and garden maintenance.
Governing Document:
Education
The Education group supports the membership by finding courses to run on site or to send members to attend to improve the skills and knowledge in the community.
Governing Document:
Equality and Diversity
The Equality and Diversity group supports the diversity of the membership, looking at ways we can adapt our property and process to enable everybody to live and work well together.
Governing Document:
Employment
The Employment Group acts as a point of liaison between the membership and the paid staff. They also make sure the staff have all the training they need.
Sustainability
The Recycling and Sustainability group provides information and support for members to recycle, upcycle and donate old or excess property. They also consider ways we can all reduce our impact.
Governing Document:
You can read more about our working groups on our wiki.