FreeConomy Communities: practical options for those who want to realise financial independence

Do you want to be a FreeConomy “Gatekeeper” – introducing FreeConomy

products and services to LOCAL people in your area?

What you will need

You will need a venue:
1. A place for people to meditate
2. A dance area for yoga, pilates or keep-fit
(Tai Chi, Aikido, Qi Gong etc)
3. A meeting area
4. A place for classes (workshops, seminars,
talks)
5. Internet access – computers and printers
6. Flexible workspace – desks for rent by the hour or half-day (hot-desking)
7. A screen
8. Tea and coffee
9. A bar: refreshments counter, sandwich bar, juice bar
10. Networking space, where people can stand and chat
11. A reception area
12. Comfy sofas and coffee table

Rural retreat?
If you can provide accommodation for self-catering: a coastal location, a
countryside location, services for small groups, school groups, residential
seminars, so much the better!

What you earn

People pay a Membership to belong to the Centre (a monthly fee or annual
subscription). The Membership fee is yours to keep.

Only Members have access to Members’ services.

 You build a skill-set of local specialists who share

your values and ethos.
 This is your Sangha. “Sangha” means: “community
of friends”.

 Sangha Members provide their services on a Dana

basis.

 “Dana” means: “generosity”.

 Only Sangha members who you invite and approve

are invited to participate.

You can invite Sangha Members from the database of those who offer their
services: “Just for the love of it!”. See: www.justfortheloveofit.org

Transition Culture
If you are interested in Transition Culture (low carbon footprint: healthy lifestyle,
eco-living, opportunity for all) then we can help you sell products and deliver
services relevant to local needs.
We welcome those who want to participate in Transition Culture on a not-for-
profit, community-centred, co-operative basis.
We welcome those who want to participate in Re-skilling, either as an individual
or as a sponsoring organisation.

Just for the Love of it! Introducing: Transition Culture and Resurgence Magazine
www.transitionculture.org and www.resurgence.org
FreeConomy Communities: practical options for those who want to realise financial independence

Centre income
You charge an hourly rate for rooms and venue hire, and
you earn from sales of tea, coffee, juices, muffins, cakes,
refreshment and sandwiches at lunchtime.
You also earn from Internet access.

Products
We help you sell products: eco-products, healthy lifestyle
products and eco-living products that you can supply to
local customers at preferential rates for Members.
Non-members pay standard rates.

Eco-products can be sold via e-commerce facilities

attached to your Centre Homepage - promoted as part of a Café Loyalty Card
scheme.

Desktop Publishing
You can earn from local publishing: downloaded courseware
delivered via the Internet: Students’ Handbook, Social
Entrepreneurs Handbook, Language learning courseware, City
Guides, Dharma Studies, as well as: plays, poetry, creative
writing and independent media produced by your own members,
publishing their work.

Lending services
1. You can provide bookshelf space for a community library of useful books
(available to members for hire).
2. You can earn from bicycle hire and repairs.
3. You can also encourage tool and equipment exchange using the FreeLend
scheme.

Learning Centre?
We help your venue act as a Centre of Learning and Eco-learning.
Neo-natal groups, Daytime nursery facilities and after-school Clubs
can be run alongside Centre activities in a separate location.

Contact us for: Student services, Schools Outreach Programme,

Teacher Training opportunities with Eco-Campus for those interested
in: Fair Trade, Social Enterprise and Right Livelihood.

Recreation
Each Centre takes care of its own entertainment: FilmKlub, music,
dance, drama, performing arts, singing and poetry.

Spiritual Community
If you want to provide for spiritual development in community, you
can choose to participate in promoting: multi-cultural understanding,
non-violent communication, restorative justice and meditation.

You can offer workshops and courses alongside Members’ activities

such as: yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Aikido and Barefoot Boogie nights
(smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free dance events for all ages).

Dharma Study
For those interested in eco-learning you can access courseware, consultancy and
resources, as well as Curricula Development services and publishing support up to

Just for the Love of it! Introducing: Transition Culture and Resurgence Magazine
www.transitionculture.org and www.resurgence.org
FreeConomy Communities: practical options for those who want to realise financial independence

a value of £50,000 by applying to study at SOL Community, Eco-Campus@ The

Spirit of Life Centre, Mani, Greece.

Meeting local needs

Alternatively, we can do a needs-analysis for demand for
learning in your area, and carry out a diagnostic assessment
of your capacity to support self-managed learning.

Setting up your own Co-op Cafe

To set up your own independent Café Community Centre we
charge a standard rate of £25,000 excluding costs of
equipment. All you need do is find a suitable venue.

The Co-venture option

Alternatively, we work on a Co-venture basis, by invitation, with those who share
co-operative values and ethos. You can contact us directly by applying to join:
SOL Community @ Eco-Campus, Mani, Greece.

Financial independence for those we work with

When your SOL Retreat Centre fees total £1800 in six months (or £2400 in
eighteen months) you are eligible to access up to £10,000-worth of consultancy,
introductions and support to set up your own independent co-op on a Co-venture
basis.

Just for the Love of it! Introducing: Transition Culture and Resurgence Magazine
www.transitionculture.org and www.resurgence.org