We have great news! We’ve been successful in getting funding to finish off our pre-lockdown development work (community engagement and architectural feasibility study) and to build on some of the ace community initiatives that have started during the pandemic to support people in our community who are increasingly vulnerable because of Covid. Thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for their support, it’s really amazing to have in these tough times. Now we can start up gain - and employ a community organiser - we thought it would be a good time to give you a reminder of what the hub could be and where we’re at!
Bearwood Community Hub CIC will be an open-to-all community space on Bearwood Road (where the footfall is, and to encourage footfall!) sustained by social enterprises, including venue hire and a welcoming and professional workspace for commuters, homeworkers and business owners. We’re also looking into art studios/maker spaces. We’ve been working with the lovely people at St Mary’s Church to see if we can develop the now under-used community hall and rooms at the back of the church.
By this summer, we were meant to have finalised our business plan, achieved planning permission and completed big capital funding applications! But like so many things, Covid-19 has turned our plans upside down and we’ve had to think differently. I’ve been asked lots of questions lately about what we’re doing so we've done a little Q&A to explain what’s been happening and how you can involved: https://www.bearwood.cc/blog/aug2020update
You might also like to read our big summary doc, written to support our case for investment in the Bearwood Community Hub through the government’s Town Investment initiative. And finally, you can sign up to our mailing list here.
EVERYONE is welcomed and valued at Bearwood Community Hub, so please contact us if you have any questions, ideas or want to be involved! hello@bearwood.cc, @bearwoodcommunityhubcic (instagram), @bearwood.cc (facebook) or @bearwoodhub (Twitter).