TEN YEARS ON

Ten Years On

It may sound odd to say that there is any difference between the way we went about things ten years ago and the way it is now but there ate good reasons for the changes. Living in groups is now desirable to lots of people and there must be thousands who have taken the trouble to find out what it means and how they would want to relate to others in a group. Given this background, the formation of a group is not a radical experiment but rather more a way of life.

For a start, you haven't got a group until there are three or four people involved and fairly firmly committed. These I will define as the 'core group' and they have to undertake all the basic decisions, negotiations and the bulk of the hard work and costs of setting up. They have to have a certain amount of courage and the drive to overcome the obstacles which the group is bound to meet, even though these will probably be less than they used to be. Ideally the core group members will have had some experience of community living, holding meetings, negotiating with local authorit-ies and a nodding acquaintance with the building trade. All these things will have to be found somehow but the vital ingredient is a firm grasp of the financial issues involved. It is enough that one member of the core group has the necessary experience in each area but the more capable the members, the better.

It would help if the core group members live within easy reach of each other and the area in which the group hopes to settle. Flexibility about the location of the house eventually purchased will help to widen choice and give the best chance of making a good purchase.

The core group needs to meet at least once a month for a full day-long discussion. Between times frequent telephone conversations, visits to prospective sites and all the offices which need visiting will keep members in touch. When meeting officials, estate agents, solicitors and similar people, at least two core group members should be present. If the meeting is vital, such as making an offer for a house, get as many there as possible. If you have to make a departure from an agreed policy it helps to be able to agree it on the spot rather than refer it back to your next weekend meeting.

The core group will have to be resilient enough to meet setbacks. Houses will be lost because finance can't be found. Finance will be found but members will not be happy about the house. Planners will not agree to the scheme, fire officers will want expensive pre-cautions and the contract you are offered will contain impossible conditions. These may stop you temporarily but they are generally obstacles to be got over, around or through.

It is wise to run on the smallest core group you feel can tackle the work-load. Too big makes decisions harder but up to eight or ten is reasonable, particularly if they are old friends.

Generally, it is unwise to make hard and fast rules at any stage except where the stability of the group is involved. Political and religious platforms make unrealistic demands on members and should be avoided if possible but groups with a strong common interest in subjects like art, sport or community support where wide differ-ences of opinion are tolerated are often the better for them. Self--sufficiency is likely to be high on the list of priorities for a rural group. The work involved can be either a source of shared enjoyment or a disruptive factor.

The core group decides how big the full group will become.

Existing groups range up to over forty adults with nearly as many children and teenagers as well. There is no clear indication that one size is better than another but too small can be hard at times. The actual house and its cost will affect the number who can be housed and the costs to each. The core group must be able to see the financial equation in balance, allowing all necessary fees, conversion costs, interest charges and a margin for spend-ing over and above the purchase price. Don't get too worried about adding members until you are certain you have the house. Ideally you should be able to sign up a full role of members on the day you exchange contracts. At all costs avoid having members who in the end can't be housed. When filling up the group, try to add one member of a family at a time so that you don't find that you have a struggle for the last place. Remember that you are choosing friends, possibly for life, but also remember than nobody is perfect and that people will change under the influence of the group. Don't become too puffed up with your power at this stage. You will be held responsible for all the mistakes you make just when things are at their worst for you.

Continued