We are currently looking for New Members
If you are interested in applying to be a member please click here to complete our Expression of Interest form.
If you are unable to complete the Expression of Interest form you can also email earthwormcooperative@yahoo.co.uk or call 01547 540 378 and leave a message.
On the form you can ask questions and tell us what you are looking for.
Before you complete the expression of interest form or apply, please take the time to read all the background information on this website.
You'll find out a lot about Earthworm Housing Co-op, living here, our plans and how the co-op works so you know what you are letting yourself in for!
If for any reason it's difficult for you to access the website or to send us your application please email, earthwormcooperative@yahoo.co.uk or call 01547 540 378 and leave a message and we can send you hard copies of the website text and the application form.
The full application process explained
We are a small community and our aims for the houses and land are quite specific. In order to make sure the right people become members of Earthworm Housing Co-operative and to make sure that we are the right people for you to live and work with, our application process is quite formal and follows a set process. Below we explain how the process works, what happens when and how we finally allocate membership.
Initial expression of interest
If you are interested in applying to be a member and would like to apply please click here to complete our Expression of Interest form.
Once we have received your form, we will be in touch to discuss any queries and talk about what we currently have on offer here at the co-op.
We will then send you our full application form, which you need to complete and send back to us either by email, by post, a video or audio file including all the answers to our questionnaire (see 'Applications for Membership') which includes telling us who you are (including dependants and animals), why you would like to apply to join Earthworm Housing Co-op, what skills and experience you bring, what you current housing situation is and what your future needs are.
Please give as much information as you like and tell us anything of interest about yourself. The Membership Application form asks 25 questions about you and what you would want to do at Earthworm Housing Co-op.
Shortlisting and arranging visits to Earthworm
We discuss applications at a co-op meeting on a 6 week rolling programme and, if necessary, shortlist applicants. If you are on the shortlist, we'll invite you to come and meet us. It may take a couple of short visits to meet everyone if you are local, or if you live further away we might arrange for you to come along to a work weekend or arrange another time to come and stay over. To arrange when you will come and visit you'll be talking to or e-mailing with one of our friendly membership team.
After your initial visit we'll decide in a co-op meeting whether we want to progress your application further. If we decide to progress further, we will arrange more visits where you will spend more time getting to know all the current members and speak about how you would fit in here and how we could accommodate your needs.
Once everyone (including you) feels ready to make a decision, we'll discuss your application again, without you, in a co-op meeting. Successful applicants start a 6-8 month probationary period, as soon as possible after the co-op meeting that accepted their application.
If you need more time to settle your affairs elsewhere before starting your probationary period, we may be able to offer a little flexibility. Please let us know as early as possible in the application process, if you think you might need this. We may ask for an interim rent payment to hold your space.
6-8 month probationary period
It's not uncommon for housing cooperatives to have such a long trial period and very few probationary members don’t become full members - starting the probationary period was a big kind of acceptance. In most cases when probationary members don't stay on, it was their decision and not a decision that came from the existing co-op members.
The reason for the variety between 6 and 8 months it that it has to be at least 6 months, but some years, in certain months - August or December - so many members are away so much that we declare that that month didn't count! It's really important that we work, meet and relax together enough, during the probationary period, that everyone is sure it'll work out with this new person as a full member.
Every probationary member is assigned 2 "buddies" from the existing members. The buddies offers support to the probationary member as they settle in and is their first port of call if they have any questions about the co-op. They can also liaise between the probationary member and full members if needed.
3-4 months into the probationary period, the probationary member and the other members of the co-op fill out a set of questions to review how things are going. This is a good chance for you to ask for other things you might need from the full-members, in order for you to be sure that you want to stay a member of this co-op. Likewise, the full members might make requests of you. Hopefully, three months in you're getting to know the people and the place well, and vice versa.
After the review, the probationary period usually continues but there is a chance it might be stopped, with 1-3 months notice given. If this is the case, you will be clearly told why.
At the end of the probationary period, there's a final probationary review including you, followed by a discussion at a co-op meeting without you, and then either full membership is agreed, or 1-3 month's notice is given.
We expect new full members to get stuck into particular jobs or working groups as soon as possible, but they can still have formal check-ins with their old buddy, if they like. We all want to support each other to be comfortable and happy here, and to contribute to the co-op as much as possible.