FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How are you so confident this will work?
We have taken the time doing our research. We are aware of the unique strengths of our model, and understand what hoops we need to jump through in order to get there. We are confident about this because we have developed and re-developed business plans which look positive. It’s more of a question of when, not whether!
What kind of facilities will you provide community groups?
That’s for you to decide! We are committed to making sure that every stage of the process involves as much community input as possible. At a minimum, we will always provide meeting spaces, internet, stationary, TV/Projector, art supplies, a library, and a garden space. But once we have a property, we want to support local projects more ways. There have already been so many ideas, and the possibilities are endless.
How do you manage disputes?
Mara Co-op prioritises identifying hierarchies wherever they exist and asking the question – Should they exist? Can this power be democratised? We are committed to consensus-based decision making within the membership and within the wider community.
Disagreement is healthy, and an essential element of a free and just society – but how they are navigated is crucial. From the onset, we have developed robust procedures for mediating disputes to ensure that everyone can feel safe in our spaces, without fear of discrimination, abuse, or unfair treatment. See our resources page for more details.
What’s loanstock?
You loan us money, we pay it back with or without interest – we decide the terms together. Details about loanstock can be found here.
