‘Why not work the system’? How punks inspired by Thatcher built a Hull housing cooperative

'Why Not Work the System'? How Punks Inspired by Thatcher Built a Hull Housing Cooperative In the 1980s, a group of students and university dropouts in Hull, England, came up with a unique idea to address their housing needs. They pooled their meager savings and jobless benefits to purchase a neglected two-bedroom property in the city's Victorian terraces, rather than renting a run-down flat. The group, which later became known as Giroscope, raised a deposit for a £3,200 mortgage on the property located near the quayside of the once-thriving fishing port. Over time, Giroscope has evolved from a modest housing cooperative into a social agency, providing neighborhood services and creating jobs in the local community. The article highlights how this grassroots initiative, inspired by the political climate under Margaret Thatcher's leadership, found a way to "work the system" and establish a sustainable housing solution for themselves and others in a time of economic uncertainty.