The Alliance of Registered Co-operatives and Housing Associations, Independent in Edinburgh (ARCHIE) was officially launched at an event hosted by housing and economy convener Councillor Kate Campbell at Edinburgh City Chambers last week.

ARCHIE members include Hunters Hall Housing Co-op, Lister Housing Co-op, Manor Estates Housing Association, Muirhouse Housing Association, Port of Leith Housing Association, Prospect Housing Association, Viewpoint Housing Association and West Granton Housing Co-operative.

As a voluntary partnership of equals (not a group structure or amalgamation), the members of the Alliance deliver services to more than 20,000 people throughout Edinburgh and, collectively, employ 440 permanent staff, which are overseen by more than 100 voluntary Board/Committee members.

Over the coming year the Alliance will focus on sharing procurement support, project management training for staff responsible for the development of new housing (delivered by Housemark) and, potentially, team up for Board/Committee Member learning and development opportunities.

Keith Anderson, chief executive of Port of Leith Housing Association, said: “All the members of ARCHIE are excited about the potential benefits for our organisations, our customers and the communities we serve of working together through this alliance while retaining our strong independent identities.

“We are looking forward to ARCHIE’s first year of activity and to exploring many other ways we can collaborate to deliver great results and provide good value for money.”

Councillor Kate Campbell said: “This initiative will help the smaller housing associations to support each other. Working together they can identify local housing need and find ways of improving services to their 20,000 customers across Edinburgh.”