Advice greatful on renovation project

[Jason_Lee]

Hello all.

Can anyone give me any advice on running a community centre/ leisure complex. I have a relevent degree. I live in a small village that used to have a coal mine. The old Colliery welfare has been stood for years.

My plan is to renovate this building to put my villages name back on the map to the surrounding areas. The establishment will cater for all events. It will hae sports halls, gym facilities, ten pin bowling, snooker, pool. It will also be a place for events for the local schools.

It would be my dream to make this happen. This would obviously be a business venture and i would dedicate my full time to it and make it a real success for myself and the community.

Any advice on where to get funding for such a project would be a great help. Also advice on any other aspects of the project would be great.

[Cornish Steve]

When the dockyard was privatised in Devonport many years ago, I seem to remember that the authorities received a large grant from the EU to put the more destitute areas to good use. This included bowling alleys and the like. Given that the colliery has stood empty for a while in your town, do you think there's any benefit in seeking an EU grant? I have no idea how this would work, or even if grants apply to private projects, but it might offset some of your costs.

[Tazuk]

There are many grants available from the EU, national lottery and regional development agencies. Depending on your exact location there may already be a scheme running and you could approach them.
I am a volunteer director and treasurer for a regeneration company that does exactly what you want to do. I will PM you my contact details and we can discuss this and I will see what can be done for you.

Tony

[clairemackaness]

Regional development agencies have single regeneration budgets. Not sure about your area but EEDA is my local one. www.eeda.org.uk you could also try the LSC www.lsc.gov.uk or European Social Funding (LSC usually administer this) if you are going to offer any form of learning in the centre i.e. a drop in learn direct centre or careers advice. If the area is a rural community or needs regenerating then your on to a winner there.

[Jason_Lee]

Thankyou for all your advice. I would be looking to make this profitable for myself or any investers also as i will be putting all my time into getting this off the ground and also running it when it is set up.

Would i be able to get such grants for personal projects. This would be of great benefit to the community opening many jobs etc.

[clairemackaness]

It's doubtfull that an organisation will fund a profitting organisation although funding is limited to one or two years, they do expect to see an exit strategy and how the company/project can remain self sustaining into the future.

[Jason_Lee]

How would i be able to get funding but also make a living from this project? This would be my full time job you see, and would not be able to do this voluntary.

[WakingDragon]

There is a difference between "not for profit" and "voluntary". As an NFP organisation you could get paid a salary agreed (usually by a board of trustees for example) but you would not get dividends from the shares or, as far as I know, sell the company at a profit.