We’re working to trial co-operative governance and shared decision-making within St Martin of Tours Housing Association at one of their sites in North London.
St Martin of Tours provide supported accommodation and personalised care for adults with complex mental health needs. Trialling such an approach within this context, St Martin’s leadership hope to overcome some of the challenges associated with step-down housing of this kind. Challenges such as low sense of belonging among residents, with knock-on effects on personal and social needs; poor feedback and communication between residents and the landlord team, particularly senior leadership; and low levels of staff retention. While co-operative approaches such as co-production had been tried in the past, engagement from residents had been low and St Martin’s leadership were keen to try something different.
The project forms part of the Co-operation in Social Housing Commission. The Commission brings together stakeholders from across the social housing sector to explore how co-operation and power sharing between providers and resident communities can work to address key issues the sector is currently facing. The Commission Pilot Programme comprises five projects, findings from which will be published along with the Commission’s final recommendations to the sector in September 2026.
St Martin’s site in Archway was chosen for the pilot due to the local team already trying to establish a good relationship with residents. As with any project, but particularly given the context, our first stage of work was to spend time with staff and residents at the Archway site, to get to know the individuals there and how they relate to one another, and understand from them the challenges and opportunities to introducing shared decision-making and co-operative governance.
From this first stage it was clear that there was a good basis to support co-operation, and a healthy culture that allows for discussion and disagreement. Staff members had such acute awareness of what residents need to feel safe to participate in group settings, and how this can help them to thrive outside of supported living. There was also lots of interest among both staff and residents to explore ways for food to bring people together and create the sense of belonging and giving back this project is aiming for. Conversations also highlighted issues with communication, feedback and budgeting for personal and social development activities.
In response to what we’ve learned, the coming months will see us supporting residents and staff on two co-operative initiatives:
- participatory budgeting, and
- creation of a personal development programme centred around food.
Alongside these initiatives we will be working with staff across the organisation on the creation of new policy and governance arrangements aimed at supporting co-operative practices beyond the initial pilot.
Through this project and the work of the Commission we are trialling approaches to co-operative governance and shared decision-making as an alternative to devolved tenant management.