When Rob met B.
Kin was inspired by traditional money pools used by communities across the United Kingdom with different names including pardna, hagbad, menage, susu and committee. B, one of the founders of Kin, was able to afford a law degree thanks to all her "aunties" putting together a hagbad. She's now a law professor and her success is her community's success and all her aunties benefitted by the same amount. It was during the Covid19 pandemic; Rob and B were giving out free food to the community when B told Rob her story.
Today, inequality is soaring in the UK. One of the wealthiest countries in the world has more than 4 million children living in poverty (JRF Report 2025). Annual investments in fossil fuels continues to rise, despite scientists' warnings and the increasing frequency of environmental catastrophes. And this isn't the half of it.
Testing the idea
In December 2023, 100 people gathered in East London to hear the idea that is now Kin Cooperative. We decided to change our lives and build a cooperative that day because we all agreed that we need to change our financial system and this idea just might work.
Our vision is for everyone to use kin groups to support their communities and receive support. That's what community is. It takes trust and not a little bit of work.
Imagine all the different projects and changes to people's lives having just a little bit more money available for when you need it and without interest or the risk of damaging your credit score. And every success won't just belong to one person but their whole community. It's not long before we start seeing how much we owe to each other and how much we all benefit by sharing and holding things in common. This could have a profound effect and change how we think about money and each other.
Kin is not alone
Kin.coop is part of a broader project to support socially owned businesses, fund community renewable energy and safeguard community ssets against private ownership.