Beavers (co-operative movement)

The Castors is a movement of Autoconstruction Coopérative born after the Second world war in France.

Founded in 1950 in Brittany by some people of modest conditions come to the Self-help housing by need, association is established today at the national level and account nearly 50.000 members.

It is acted in fact, not of an association, but the several more or less independent associations, federated by the National confederation of Self-help housing BEAVERS. Each one with the same vocation and proposes the same services with alternatives according to the areas.

History

  • 1918 - 1945: The " préhistoire" movement Beaver

  • 1945 - 1969: Birth and development - role of the co-operatives
  • 1960 - 1970: Decline of the co-operatives, stagnation of the groups, development of the individual Beaver
  • 1970 - at our days: Disappearance of the groups, new structures for construction, the restoration in diffuse sector.

Services

  • List of local craftsmen and approved companies. Preferential rate and promotions for the members,

  • Organization of meetings between autoconstructeurs, experience sharing and knack,
  • the Councils of purchase,
  • Financing: Loan NOT WORK labellized BEAVERS,
  • Assistance for the plans and Permit building,
  • In certain areas, councils of an Architect,
  • Technical assistance Building site,
  • Buying association,
  • Material of hiring according to the area,
  • Re-examined monthly,
  • Memorandum of construction,
  • Insurance: Damage works decennial. Multigaranties civil responsibility of the member Beaver during work, insurance of the goods… several formulas are proposed.

Various associations

  • BEAVERS of the West (of Charentes as far as Normandy)

  • BEAVERS of the Batch
  • the BEAVERS the Rhone-Alps
  • BEAVERS of the Sum
  • BEAVERS of North
  • BEAVERS of Alsace
  • BEAVERS of Haute-Garonne (and of South-west)
  • BEAVERS of island of France (78,91,94,95)

External bonds

  • Pierre Mercklé, the housing shortage of post-war period in France and movements co-operative: the example of the Beavers, article on the site of the ENS

  • Internet site of Associations Beavers of France.

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