| |
Since the Radical Routes network set up in 1988, hundreds of people who are striving for a better world have become part of our network of mutual aid and support through co-operation. Radical Routes co-ops work for social change, aiming to create a socially just and ecologically sustainable society. By investing in Rootstock, you can support these co-operative ventures in a very practical way. Despite often showing a lower failure rate than conventional business, co-operatives are frequently discriminated against by banks when they apply for loans. The Radical Routes network has built up links with sympathetic banks and other lenders and has set up a loan fund. Most often this is used to make "top up" loans for the purchase of property. Although Radical Routes might only provide 20% or 30% of the purchase price , this contribution is often essential for the project to go ahead. This fund has been very successful . Rootstock takes this one stage further, providing our investors and supporters with their own social investment society which is run according to the co-operative principles. Rootstock is a social investment society set up as an initiative of the Radical Routes network of co-operatives. Rootstock builds on the success of Radical Routes in raising investment and making loans to co-operatives working for a socially just and ecologically sustainable society. |