Newcastle University

Getting by with help from friends 

SUPPORT is being sought to set up small communities in the North East in which residents share decisions and support each other.

The concept of co-housing was the focus of a public meeting organised by Newcastle University, Newcastle Elders Council and the Quality of Life Partnership, set up by the city council, Age Concern and Newcastle Healthy City project.

Co-housing involves people forming communities where individuals have their own private home space but share activities such as cooking, gardening or cars and provide each other with help and support.

The system is established in Scandinavia, Holland and the United States but has never taken root in the UK.

Rose Gilroy, senior lecturer in Newcastle University's school of architecture, said that in Europe some local authorities organised meetings where like-minded people met to discuss forming communities.

Co-housing is seen as an answer to the challenges of an ageing population, where older people could become isolated.