John Franks who lives on Ainsworth Street is leading the Save Our Space Campaign. He said “We’re thrilled with the response from the local community. Since we launched the community share offer we have had over 140 pledges, and we could now manage a bid of over a quarter of a million pounds. It’s a great indication that local people are behind our project to create a community centre that can become a much needed home to a wide variety of activities including clubs, classes and events.“
“Although the campaign has got off to a great start, we still have a long way to go in a short space of time! We’ve got until Valentine’s Day to get in as many pledges as possible. So we now urgently need even more local residents to back our campaign if we are to put together an offer of £600,000 before the site goes on the open market.”
The campaign is being backed by author and local resident Ali Smith CBE. She said ”There's a big lack of local community space here, which is why this space is particularly precious to us residents. The plan to turn it into an even more thriving, revenue-generating community centre is such a good one, honouring the space's past and the neighbourhood's future. Let's be careful not to lose it.”
Anyone can pledge to buy one or more shares at a cost of £250 each. Shareholders will be entitled to proposed 3% interest on their investment. And the campaign is pleased to announced that they expect shareholders to benefit from Social Investment Tax Relief, which provides benefits including a 30% income tax relief on any investment in blocks of shares. What’s not to love?
The campaign team have put together a comprehensive business plan and the new charity that will take on the running of the centre will pay the interest to shareholders from the surplus generated from renting out the space.
To find out more, support the campaign and to make a pledge visit www.sturton.org
• The campaign has been generously supported by local Labour councilors - most recently in the provision of £48,600 of funding for building improvement if the site is successfully acquired.
• The campaign is also very glad to welcome the support of Julian Huppert MP.
• The community asset moratorium on the site gives the community chance to put together an offer for the current owners to consider before it goes on the open market
• The site is being sold by the Methodist Church.
• Businesses can invest too and investments can be up to £100,000.
• The Sturton centre business plan http://www.sturton.org/uploads/3/2/0/4/32043771/sturtoncentrebusinessplan.pdf
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Contact
John Franks: Tel 07866 956516 Email [email protected]
Ruth Billingham: Tel 07814 908139 Email [email protected]