Work for Change provides co-operatively managed workspace including offices, artists studios, workshops, cafe and theatre space. The workspace is managed by the tenants, supported by two part-time staff. Tenants control all aspects of the management, including setting rents and spending budgets, planning maintenance and letting spaces.
The workspace shares a courtyard building with Homes for Change housing co-operative, who manage the 75 flats. The scheme was a prototype for mixed use urban living, now being developed across the city. This gives many benefits including reduced travel time and increased security, as the building is always occupied.
The building was developed in partnership with The Guinness Trust as part of the Hulme City Challenge programme, using European Regional Development Fund money. The workspace was designed by the businesses involved at that time, many of which are still tenants. Some people choose to live and work in the building, while others are involved in only one of the co-operatives. Most people in Work for Change live in the Hulme area and the building remains one of the most important community led initiatives in the country.
Environmental design was a priority from the start, assisted by the designation of the scheme as a 21st Century Homes Demonstration Project . With the help of environmental consultants a range of environmental targets were set for the building including global issues such as reducing CO2 emissions by 50%, energy use to reduce heating bills achieving an NHER rating above 9.5, reducing un-recycled waste to 50% of a typical household, omitting harmful materials, and maximizing flora and fauna. Measures include super insulation, efficient heating systems, Low E glass, low energy light bulbs, grass roofs, and recycling points. We have assessed our performance against the 23 targets that were set and found that 17 have been fully achieved and only two have been missed entirely. Many of the features which had to be fought for at the time the building was designed have become standard practice since.
We have recently installed a Biomass boiler to reduce our Carbon emissions.