Collaborative Learning Journeys

There's a good chance that you've been thinking for some time about running your own show. You may well have done a considerable amount of research and even worked up some ideas. Perhaps you've developed a business plan, a training programme, a network of prospective clients. Or maybe you've been trading for a while.

Our experience is that many people find themselves caught in a dilemma: they realise that collaboration will help them learn from others and move forward more quickly; yet they fear these others will exploit them, taking their ideas or their contacts. Value is often difficult to measure and traditional organisations risk excluding the wrong people.

We imagined a club whose members completely trusted each other to introduce people and ideas without fearing they would be cut out of the loop; a space where we could experiment together, speak as critical friends, and share the risks and successes. A place where everyone acknowledges each other's unique contributions.

Take a look at our initial agreement and notice how you feel about it. If you have any questions, we'll be happy to talk it through with you.

The Contented Cooperative

Members of our Learning Community pass through a number of staging posts en route to co-ownership of the cooperative:

• Stage 1 Introduction & Development
• Stage 2 Learning projects
• Stage 3 Community Service
• Stage 4 Association
• Stage 5 Directorship

Stage 1 Introduction & Development

Once a copy of the agreement has been received, we will add you to our distribution list and you can book a place at our intimate Introduction & Development events. We'll send you some information to help you prepare for the sessions, where you'll meet people like yourself with complementary projects and networks. Note that a small charge may be levied to cover the costs of the venue and refreshments.

Key outcomes of these early events include:

• understanding the likely impact of sustainable development on your work
• appreciating the value to you of innovation, learning and collaboration
• an individual development plan, a sketched route map for you and your work
• a plan to help you secure short-term funding
• a barter-payment proposal to reduce the cost of this development programme

Once your proposal has been approved by our governing body (the Core Team), we will:

• send you a password to access our intranet, where you will be able to download proposals and presentation templates, funding applications, lesson plans and access our network of advisors
• set up an account to register your time invested in the community, your intellectual property assets and any introductions you are willing to make
• begin due diligence (eg reference checks) and put in place further agreements as appropriate

Stage 2: Learning projects

Community projects allow you to test your learning in a safe environment, usually with young people, and we will support you in designing and setting up a small pilot in your area, including raising finance to help cover your costs of participation in our programme. This will usually be with a group of young people, perhaps in a school or youth project near your home or work. We will discuss whether Contented should support or manage this, depending on budgets and experience.

Stage 3: Community Service

In order to progress to Association, you must undertake a period of service to the Contented community, for which you will earn credits against the Development Fund.

This must be agreed by the Core Team, but typically includes organising events or supporting other people's projects according to your own experience, development needs and life-style. You can create your own role, choosing from:

Stage 4: Association

Once you have consistently demonstrated a minimum level of learning and participation, you can be appointed an Associate. As an owner of Contented, you share payments from our Development Fund according to how much has been credited through your previous work. To keep qualifying, you must continue your programme of learning. As an associate, you can continue to earn credits for:

• sharing your ongoing individual learning
• leading Learning Projects
• mentoring less-experienced members

Stage 5: Directorship

Terms & Conditions of this level are still in development but it is anticipated that directors will deliver the majority of their work through Contented as sole-agent, will be answerable to Companies' House, and have their share of the Development Fund capped. In fact, we're not even sure what the benefits of such responsibility might be!