8.0 Financial Viability

e anticipate that Bucks CC would make the restored Old School Building available to our Charitable Trust, by way of a Community Asset Transfer, in a similar way to their making the Old Town Hall and Library available to the village on a ‘peppercorn’rent – although in our circumstances, no rent at all. Discussions would clearly need to take place, but we would see the way forward in Bucks CC making the building available to us to use as a Community Facility as described above, on a long term lease, run by Trustees. Our reasons in suggesting the ‘no rent at all’ lease as our opening gambit, is that we are a voluntary Group intending to become voluntary Trustees – running a Charitable ‘Not-For-Private-Profit’ Community Group, entirely dedicated on this issue to enhancing local provision for our Community, and thus in ‘match-funding’ terms have saved – and intend to continue to do so – the County thousands of pounds whilst the facility itself is planned to become financially self-sustaining by being inherently tailored and thus profitable.

We are aware that there is some Structural cracking in the building – stemming we feel from short term subsidence after refurbishments to drainage put in place less than twenty years ago; we are advised that these cracks should be monitored using ‘rotational’ ties for a period of twelve months, and any remedial work take place thereafter.

Cash Flow Forecast – proposing that we become a Charitable Trust acceptable to Bucks CC, we have worked with the three proposed rent-paying Community-Led Businesses (Café, Theatre Group, Cookery School) who should be responsible for, and pay for. their own detail adaptations beyond basic refurbishment, their own metered utilities, and that they would pay a rent providing a profit for the Community Trust to plough back into the Community venture.

Based on previous expenditure in the building – figures obtained for the last three years from Ivinghoe Parish Council Ledger, and extrapolating this for the increased use for the proposed businesses, inflation, etc., we anticipate broad figures thus:

Annual running expenditure for insurances, business rates,

utilities for the Café, Cookery School, Community Theatre and ‘Work Hotel’, part-time manager, etc:     £  9,500

Maintenance of Building and Grounds:    £  4,000

Annual income from rents of £13,500, although this might well need to be discounted for the first year:    £13,500

Projected Utilisation Rates:  

Community Café, Cookery School, Theatre Group:

100% take up of their spaces, as we are already working with them; Suggest 65% of ‘Work Hotel’ spaces initially, but we anticipate that this figure will improve.

Funding: 

We have made applications for potential BIG Lottery Funding – the Village SOS Fund, and the SilverDreams Fund (which is targeted at building / social capacity for projects relating to the needs of elderly people) – other potential funds are Community Chest, Vital Villages, Leader, COMMA (although this particular fund stream will likely cease by end of the 2011 financial year), Buckinghamshire Community Foundation, and perhaps a Local Area Forum Community Project at a later date (to meet local priorities) – and we are seeking to make other applications or Funding assistance. We are aware that there are other Funding Streams open to the project, and we would welcome Bucks CC’s input to assist us:

Potential Available Funds are:

Community Chest (administered by AVDC): 

Project grants – one-off grants for revenue or capital costs, up to £25,000 – for new or ongoing projects that can demonstrate they are successful in meeting local needs. This can include funding for social enterprises. Applications will be reviewed three times a year. Minimum total project cost £5,000. Next closing dates: 4th April 2012, 20th July 2012.

Vital Villages (AVDC): 

Grants are up to £5,000, with a minimum of £1,000 — higher amounts will be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Criteria

Applicants must be based within Aylesbury Vale district and be one of the following:

• a local pub, shop, post office or social enterprise that is running a business

• a local organisation (that is running a business) that is a registered charity or an incorporated body based in a village or rural area

• a community group (that is running a business) provided they are working in partnership with (or with the backing of) a registered charity or incorporated body.

Activities that qualify for funding:

• Capital expenditure

• Property improvements

• Marketing and advertising

• Staff training.

 

Buckinghamshire Community Foundation (BCF): 

Social Opportunity Fund 

£100,000 – The Buckinghamshire Community Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a new grants programme called the “Social Opportunity” Fund aimed at helping people with care and support needs within Buckinghamshire.  Funding is provided as a maximum one year, one off grant and can be used for operating and/or capital expenditure to include the set-up, operation and promotion of activities.

BCF General Fund 

The General Fund could potentially offer grant funding towards this project.  The General Fund is a rolling grants programme, so groups can apply at any time.  It can take up to two months to receive a grant decision.  The maximum grant available is £5,000.  Grants can be used for capital and/or operating costs.

Comic Relief 

Administered by BCF locally – grants are considered twice a year: April and October and grants of up to £10,000 are available.  Grants cannot be used to fund building costs, including access adaptations to buildings but the funding is available for any projects that:

• increase local services,

• builds skills of local people,

• increase community cohesion,

• respond to local economic needs.

Leader fund: 

Ivinghoe is in the Leader funding area – and funding is for farmers, small rural businesses and community groups to enable them to strengthen the local economy or support the local community. A large range of activities can be considered although they must address the themes/sectors as described. Additionally, our proposal must demonstrate environmental sustainability and be economically viable.

The funding can support capital purchases such as machinery, equipment, marketing and in some cases professional fees. It cannot support running costs.

How much can we apply for? 

Up to £50,000, although in exceptional cases there could be more. As a rule, the funding can only be used for a maximum of 50% of the total costs where there is a commercial return (the exact proportion depends on each project) – although in certain circumstances a greater percentage of the grant may be considered. We must identify our own match funding which cannot be from another public fund.

LEADER funding can also be used for up to 70% of the costs to build or improve community facilities in the area i.e. village halls, community shops etc. 

Application Process and Criteria 

Initially, an expression of interest form must be lodged, which should give a brief overview of the project so that the team can asses this against the funding criteria. The fund closes at end 2013, but the books will close in September/October 2013.

Great Brickhill, Wing & Ivinghoe Local Area Forum: 

 The Forum is setting its priorities in Feb/Mar 2012, and we believe that it may be likely that the LAF wants to support projects relating to reducing social isolation for older/vulnerable people or activities for young people – entirely in line with our proposals.

If this is the case and subject to the local priorities budget being continued in the next financial year (currently £20,000), the Local Area Forum (LAF) could decide to commission our Ivinghoe group with funding in the region £5,000 – £10,000 potentially available, subject to LAF agreement, for the purposes of a community project meeting local priorities.

We look forward to ‘Working with you’ on this realisable vision for Ivinghoe’s Village Future!

Summary of broad brush plan: 

How we are going to do it:

On the advice of a pro-bono Community Impact Bucks solicitor, after discussing the possibility of a CIC or the newer hybrid Social Enterprise being developed now, we elected to form a Charitable Trust to run the building on a lease from the County Council (Community Asset Transfer). This would be very much like the current town hall trustees, with a lease agreed between the trustees and the county covering structural repairs and maintenance (exactly what to be negotiated). The centre would be run by the board of trustees, possibly with a manager, with a view to becoming a charity and being governed by the rules required. Within this format we would effectively rent out and manage the facilities of the centre for community benefit. How we are going to fund it – capital start up costs

Capital Funding:  

Legal Costs: Solicitor in establishing Charitable Trust for the Community Hub, and other negotiations:     £  2,500

Building Costs:  External/Paving Works:  £  2,500

Electrics/Gas upgrade:  £23,000

Floor Layer:    £  9,000

Plumber:    £  5,500

Decorator:    £  8,200

Telecom Installations:   £  3,000

Security System:   £  3,000

———-

£54,200 £54,200

 

Computer Installations:4no. Computers inc. Monitors: £  1,600

Laser Printer (all in one):  £     500

Work Tables and Desks:  £  1,500

Chairs:     £     300

———-

£  3,900 £  3,900

 

Initial Furnishings to Community Based Businesses:

Basic Tables and Chairs:  £  1,200

Crockery, Cutlery, etc.:  £     800

Microwave Cooker:   £     200

Instant Boiling Water Units:  £  1,630

Kitchen Fittings:   £  3,000

Costume Storage (3 Units):  £  1,200

Racking:    £     500

———-

£  8,530 £  8,530

———-

Approximate Total, subject to more detailed study:    £69,130

 

With contingiency, say, £75,000 

 

The TRUST model would be able to apply for grant funding from a wide range of organisations including the lottery, although we are so far working with the Café, Theatre and Cookery School partners on the basis of their carrying out their own specific works.

Should we be successful in Grant Applications such that more Capital Funding is available than initially required, we would anticipate putting excess funds towards ongoing maintenance; if we are successful in acquiring only part of Capital Funding required, then we would seek voluntary help from Villagers buying materials from fund-raising, and from the businesses who seek to join with us in the Community Hub. We do not anticipate having no success at all in acquiring funds. How you are going to keep it going – revenue stream

Income: Craft Café, Community Theatre, Cookery School, Work Hotel (either rents or profits depending on the model, but preferably rents) – hall lettings that do not conflict with Ivinghoe Town Hall, (youth club, sports/fitness sessions, overspill classes, U3A, parties) – hot desk rents, business meeting room rents, fund raisers.

Expenditure: any part-time management costs, rent, rates, heat, light, insurance, maintenance, etc.