Nationwide Foundation awards UKCN over £64,000
Bridport Cohousing CLT – Photograph: Rebecca Noakes
We’re delighted to share that the Nationwide Foundation has awarded UKCN £64,299 to support the next stage of our work. This comes as the government’s taskforce has include community led housing in plans to create 12 new towns of at least 10,000 homes each, whilst building 1.5 million homes during this Parliament. Ministers are also calling for a more diverse housing sector — with community-led housing (CLH) and cohousing firmly in the spotlight.
As Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed has said “It’s time we deliver lasting change by working with people, not doing to them.”
And as Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has said: “Community-led housing not only delivers social and affordable homes for local people, it also gives local communities a greater say on where new homes are built and how they are designed.”
What this funding means for UKCN
Over the next 10 months we will:
- Refresh our membership offer and launch a new alliance model with developers, housing associations and local authorities.
- Run a communications campaign to raise the profile of cohousing and make sure it’s part of new town and housing diversification plans.
- Develop new services for groups, including online learning and support with community formation.
Why this matters for our members
- It strengthens UKCN’s ability to represent your voice in national policy.
- It helps us build alliances with the wider housing sector.
- It ensures cohousing is seen as a credible, scalable part of the UK’s housing future.
Gary Hartin, Programme Manager at the Nationwide Foundation, said:
“Everyone deserves a home that offers comfort, safety and a sense of belonging. The Nationwide Foundation is proud to support the UK Cohousing Network at such a pivotal moment for housing policy. With new towns on the horizon and a growing appetite for more diverse delivery, we see cohousing as a vital way to put communities at the heart of housing and to create a sense of belonging. This funding will help UKCN strengthen its role, champion community-led housing, build alliances, and ensure cohousing has a voice in shaping the homes and neighbourhoods of the future.”
UK Cohousing Network’s CEO Owen Jarvis said,
“This is a step forward not just for UKCN as an organisation, but for everyone who believes in communities shaping their own homes and neighbourhoods. Thank you to all our members and supporters — your commitment to a better housing future makes this possible”
Next steps:
We’ll be in touch soon with opportunities to get involved, from new membership offers to influencing campaigns and learning events. Together, we’re making sure cohousing has a central place in the future of UK housing.