By Marino Donati | 17 November 2014
Community buildings in England will get a boost from a £3.4m government fund to help them reopen to the public or transform their existing use.
The buildings include a Grade II listed lido, a village shop, a former stable block as well as derelict land. They will receive between £130,000 and £440,000 from the Department for Communities and Local Government’s community assets fund.
The funding will pay for repairs and refurbishment, and create local jobs the government said.
Communities minister Stephen Williams said: ‘The monies announced today will help these six inspirational schemes get off the ground and not only will they provide leisure, cultural and care facilities for the future, they will also create local jobs, helping to build both a stronger economy and a fairer society.’
Assets receiving funding so far are:
- Eyes Open Community Interest Company, Suffolk: to buy the freehold to a Grade II listed former bank where the community arts centre is located.
- Ilmington Community Shop Ltd, Warwickshire: to buy and convert a church building into a community centre.
- Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company, Saltdean: to refurbish the lido’s Grade II listed, 1930’s art deco building.
- Squash Nutrition, Liverpool: to buy derelict land in Toxteth and build a community food centre.
- The Reader Organisation, Liverpool: to convert the Calderstones Barn and Stable Block at Calderstones Park into a community centre for reading events.
- Willowbrook Hospice, St Helens: to buy and renovate Alexander House, the former Pilkingtons Glass head office, to create a community Wellbeing Centre.
Further allocations from the fund, managed by the Social Investment Business Group, will be made later this year.
