Innovating Mental Health Peer Support
Jointly owned and democratically governed by its peer members.
The Shareholders Are Our Members.
One-member-one-vote at our online General Meetings means our peer members will have an authentic voice in what we do. Whilst also receiving a share of any profit we achieve as a social enterprise in dividend payments.
A New Approach to Mental Health
Most individuals, families and carers of those with mental illness, autism and learning disabilities are often familiar with being Service Users (SU) of the NHS (a.k.a the public sector). Many may have also used the services of charities (a.k.a. the third sector) which today can be responsible for operating contracts commissioned by the NHS and our local councils. Some of us are even fortunate enough to be able to pay privately for services too (a.k.a the private sector) though this largely could be as a result of dissatisfaction with our local services.
Many service users are seeking personal recovery (living as well as possible) and ultimately social inclusion. Although there are increasingly positive signs that co-production (which we broadly define as involvement of SU’s in designing services) is beginning to be adopted, many SU’s are still frustrated by its slow adoption and its poor application that leads it to appear less than genuine.
Peer Mindset will attempt to innovate a 4th approach by creating the first digital mental health multi-stakeholder and solidarity co-operative inspired by the Fair Shares Model (Prof. Ridley-Duff, 2015).
A New Co-operativism
Definition and Values
A co-operative is a person-centred enterprise united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Principles
Cooperatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Cooperatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public – particularly young people and opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of co-operation.
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
Note: These are the internationally recognised values and principles of cooperative identity as defined by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA).
Membership Plans
As written in our constitution our members are the shareholders. To become a member an individual is required to make a qualifying contribution. This will be by purchasing a yearly membership plan:
Standard Peer Membership
Requires UK Bank account to receive any dividends-
Issued 100x Peer Shares
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One-member-one-vote at online AGM
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Create Content to earn Labour Shares
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Plus many more benefits
Premium Peer Membership
Same as standard with the following:-
Issued 1000x Peer Shares
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One-member-one-vote at online AGM
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Create Content to earn Double Labour Shares
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Provide you with your own WordPress powered blog or website
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Plus many more benefits
Click to Read More About Our:
and
Power and Wealth Is Shared
Like most companies and co-operatives we have shareholders that have the traditional rights of representation from voting such as to appoint new directors and a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Shareholders usually share in the companies profits in the form of dividend payments.
Our members (shareholders) can be issued one or more classes of share: Peer shares, Labour shares and Supporter shares. Stewardship shares were issued to our founders (Dev Mindset Community Interest company) and no more Stewardship shares can be issued. It is written in our constitution that each share class will be entitled to an equal number of Directors on the companies board once Peer Mindset reaches 1000 members. Members of each share class can vote for a Director in their class on a one-member, one-vote basis at a General Meeting. However, when all classes vote together such as to pass a resolution or elect a CEO – it is one-member-one-vote irrespective of the number of shares a legal person holds.
The first £2,500 of Profits or 30% of Profits (whichever is greater) will be allocated to Reserves as working capital. This amount will be deducted from Surplus before calculating Stewardship share Dividends, Peer Share Dividends, Labour Share Dividends and Supporter Share Dividends. 5% of Surplus earned above £2,500 will be transferred to Restricted Funds for use in the “Empowering Growth Mindset Fund”.
For example: If a £4,000 profit is made, £2,500 would be deducted for the companies reserves and £75 goes to Restricted Funds. The remaining £1,425 would go to shareholders as dividends. As in the graphic below.
Associates can join at no cost but as they have not made any qualifying contributions they cannot vote at our online AGM’s and share in dividends as they are not shareholders. Additionally, Associates will not have access to membership privileges.
Click to Read More about Our Constitution:
Features Of Our Members Area
Social Networking
We have the basic features of popular social networking sites with a profile, feeds, comments and like buttons.
Discussion Forums
We have threaded forums to allow discussion of topics more intensively than what you can do over social networking.
Resources for Wellbeing
We will offer resources to help you with your well-being.
Contribute Content to Earn
You will be able to earn Labour Shares from contributing content such as blog articles. All leading to a greater share of any dividend payments.
Buy and Sell at our Online Shop
Buying from our Online shop will help support our co-operative company and any members that choose to get involved.
Review Providers and Medication
We will allow moderated reviews of providers and medications to offer a 4th perspective.
Our Members Decide Our Future
We are launching to open up membership across the UK online soon.
Contact us if you have skills or ideas to contribute to our co-operative.