Radical Routes

Homes without landlords. Work without bosses.

Grassroots control and economic revolution through co-operation

Homes without landlords. Work without bosses.

Grassroots control and economic revolution through co-operation

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Next gathering

The dates for the next gathering will be

14-16th February 2025

Venue:

F.S.C Preston Montford,
Montford Bridge,
Shrewsbury,
SY4 1DX

Hosts: The Gatherings and Access Working Group and Random Camel.

You can contact the Gatherings group at: Gatherings@RadicalRoutes.org.uk with any queries (please don’t contact the venue itself).

Purpose of Gatherings

  • Radical Routes business – decision-making and discussion, reporting on work done and allocating tasks to do

  • Introduction to how RR works and how to participate in it

  • Keeping up with each other’s co-op news – meeting new members, helping with problems, celebrating achievements

  • Socialising, skill-sharing, inspiring each other – building relationships of trust so we can work together well

  • Meeting new people and spreading consciousness of radical co-operation as a tool for re-making our world.

Who can come?

Gatherings are open to everyone:

  • Delegates of member co-ops

  • Other co-op members, associates and friends who want to participate in the network

  • People from new or existing co-ops who are interested in joining

  • random other visitors or interested people.

What happens there?

  • Delegates of member co-ops need to attend business meetings on behalf of their co-ops

  • Anyone at a gathering can attend any meeting

  • There are workshops (consensus decision-making, facilitation, how to set up a workers co-op), trainings, discussions 

  • at a physical gathering, there are lots of things to do outside meetings: putting up and taking down marquees, hanging out, food prep, kids group, queer space, banner-making, etc.
    attending gatherings online, some gatherings offer support for blended access, with business meetings and workshops accessible via online video link and space to socialise on Discord

  • New groups should attend the ‘New Groups’ meeting, and new people should attend the introductory sessions

Gatherings are usually quite intense, with lots of people trying to share a lot of information and make lots of decisions in a relatively small amount of time. If you particularly want to communicate with a specific person you don’t know, feel free to ask someone who knows what’s going on for help.

REGISTER HERE:

Use this link to register:- REGISTRATION FORM

Registration deadline:- 5pm, Monday the 3rd of February.

Venue Information

Venue details:–

F.S.C Preston Montford,
Montford Bridge,
Shrewsbury,
SY4 1DX

Venue Information:-
This is a heated indoor venue with shared bedrooms and dormitories. There is room for live-in vehicles to park. Please register in good time if you have specific needs so we can allocate bedrooms and plan menus.

Delegates from RR co-ops and co-ops partway through the joining process will be given priority for the bedrooms. Bedroom allocation will be done soon after the registration deadline, so if you register after the deadline you may not get your specific needs met or even a bedroom allocation. There is no crash space at this venue so you would need to find alternative sleeping arrangements off site.

Any non-RR members/new groups: We hope to be able to allocate you a bed, but if these all get filled by full members, we may need to ask you to find alternative accommodation. The earlier you register, the more likely you are to get a bed! There is no crash space at this venue.

There is no need to bring bedding as that is provided. Please bring card payments for meal tickets and cash for bar and cake stall. There is good wifi at the venue, games room, interactive whiteboards etc and outrageously gorgeous countryside.

Travel Information

Arrival Time:-
Friday the 14th of February from 5pm.

Directions:-
Preston Montford is located 6 miles west of Shrewsbury.

By Road: From the A5, take the roundabout exit signposted to Mid-Wales and Welshpool (A458). One mile along this road, turn right onto B4473, the venue is located on the left after approx ½ mile. SAT NAV: SY4 1DX

By Bus or Train: Train to Shrewsbury Then Bus X5 To Oswestry (from outside Lloyds Chemist) takes 17 minutes from Shrewsbury Get off at The Crescent Jct. Then a 16 min walk. Last bus Friday at 18.30.

Bus timetable for X5 can be found HERE.

If you need a lift from the station on Friday evening, please let us know on the registration form.

There are no buses on a Sunday but there will be people willing to give you a lift.

What3words: ///measuring.coats.huddled

KIDS

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TELL US IF YOU ARE BRINGING CHILDREN. Please fill out information about children you or your coop are bringing when you register for the gathering on the google form and email PUPA.Education@gmail.com

Please register as early as possible so we can plan appropriate activities. We are very glad that you are bringing children to the gathering and we are looking forward to spending time with them. 

(The kids’ space is run by the Kids Working Group. We are a voluntary group of people who are members of co-ops within the network.)

We will be there for the kids while meetings are on but we ask that you come and supervise the children you are responsible for at lunch and dinner so we can eat too. Kids space does not continue into the evening. We will organise child-friendly food/snacks. Food & snacks will be kid friendly & vegan.

Please bring clothes for all weathers for your child as we are hoping to go outside!

Kids Group Volunteer Recruitment Procedure

If you are interested in volunteering for Kids Group please get in touch as early as possible via PUPA.Education@gmail.com. Tarryn (Heartwell co-op). Kids Group needs more people from regular involvement to occasional support. Thanks.

Timetable

Friday 14th

Arrive from 5pm. Please come straight to the Welcome Desk on arrival so you can ‘check in’, pay for meal tickets, find out where you’ll be sleeping and get the code for your room.

Saturday 15th 

9.00am: Breakfast.

10.00am – 7pm:- Meetings and workshops. Lunch & dinner.

Sunday 16th 

9.00am: Breakfast.

9.30am-2.30pm: Working Group meetings and workshops. Lunch.

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

Please see venue information above.

What You Need to bring

Bring cash for the bar and cake stall, and a debit/credit card to pay for meal tickets.

Food

Three meals a day plus hot drinks will be provided, and all food will be vegan. It’s best for us if you pay for the whole weekend when you arrive (new groups and individuals who are not members of an RR co-op need to pay for food in advance, details will be emailed when registrations are received). Card payment for meals is hugely preferred please! If arriving Friday evening, it will be £20 for the weekend. Alternatively if you’re only having a couple of meals they can be paid for individually at £3/meal plus £2 for hot drinks. Kids eat free. If you have any special requirements ie. gluten free, nut free please state on the registration form.

Cake: Paula’s House Co-operative will be selling cake to raise money for Stirchley Co-operative Development’s communal lounge. Bring cash to pay for cake!

Entertainment

Ashbank Arts will be running a bar.

Co-operative speed-dating! In honour of Valentine’s Day we propose to do a co-operative and working group speed-dating event on Friday evening. Three minutes to chat to someone from a co-op or working group, learn what they do, share co-operative dreams and visions, get some inspiration!

NEW GRoups and People

If you’re new to Radical Routes (whether you’re a new member in an existing co-op or you’re a new co-op looking at Radical Routes), there is a series of workshops designed to introduce you to the workings of Radical Routes and Co-ops in general. They’re informative, exciting and essential! If you’re from a new group, it’s essential that you register your presence with Co-op Support Group by attending the New Groups meeting . This is so that they can confirm you have attended the gatherings as required, arrange joining visits and generally keep you on track.

Donations:- If you’re attending as a new group/non-member co-op/interested individual, we would be grateful for a donation if you can afford it, to help cover the costs of putting on a gathering – suggested donation from £5 to £50 per person. We don’t want this to be prohibitive and it is absolutely not compulsory if you’re not in a financial position to do so. There will be a cash collection tin on the Welcome Desk for this.

DOGS

Strictly no dogs. Sorry we love them furry things too!

Other info

Please come and see us at the welcome desk if you can facilitate, co-facilitate or minute take for meetings or workshops – there will be a sign up sheet.

There will also be a sign up sheet for help needed in the kitchen, washing up rota etc

If you would like a buddy to help you navigate the gathering come and see us at the welcome desk. If it’s your first gathering it can be a lot to take in, but there’s a lot of friendly folk around who’ll be happy to help.

This venue has lots of meeting spaces, so as this is an in-person only gathering, with no restrictions as to how much can be going on at once, SEND US YOUR WORKSHOP/ SKILLSHARE/ DISCUSSION IDEAS! It’s a really good idea to timetable them. Gatherings@RadicalRoutes.org.uk 

Any other questions? Please email Gatherings@RadicalRoutes.org.uk