THE Eldonian Village was one of the country’s first housing co-operatives.

It was originally formed in 1983 to create a lifeline for the Vauxhall area around the Leeds Liverpool Canal battered by the closures of Tate and Lyle and the BAT tobacco factory.

It won support from Prince Charles for the way the community worked together to rise like a phoenix.

In 1988, the Eldonian Group was set up to focus on community regeneration and social enterprise.

Earnings are ploughed back into the group’s social aims: “To create a sustainable neighbourhood in north Liverpool and to contribute towards city-wide regeneration, through the development of initiatives which generate enterprise, employment and wealth.”

The Eldonian Organisation comprises of a number of elements which form a diverse social enterprise:

The Eldonian Community Trust, a charity represents the views of the local community;

The Eldonian Community Based Housing Association (CBHA), who own and manage the housing stock;

The Eldonian Group Limited, who create social business to address the social and economic needs of the areas in which they work.

It has delivered a number of schemes, and continues to draw up plans for the regeneration of the area, including the latest plans to put the city on the map for the green agenda.