Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company has received £439,800 under the community assets fund for works to repair Saltdean Lido, and five other awards were also announced this week – including one to purchase a grade II* Listed former bank.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) writes:
Five community buildings including a Grade II* listed lido, a village shop, a former stable block as well as former derelict land are to receive a £3.4 million government boost to help them reopen to the public or transform their existing use.
These buildings and sites across England are all valued community assets, and today’s funding will pay for repairs, refurbishment and create local jobs. Each community asset will receive between £130,000 and £440,000 from a £3.4 million Department for Communities and Local Government community assets fund, managed by the Social Investment Business Group. Further allocations from the fund will be made later this year (2014).
Communities minister Stephen Williams said:
Local people and communities know best how they want to run things, from setting up neighbourhood plans deciding on new development to taking over local services. The monies announced today will help these 6 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.
Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company, Saltdean
£439,800 to refurbish the Saltdean Lido site, a Grade II* listed, 1930’s art deco building, located less than 5 miles from Brighton pier. The ultimate aim is to extensively renovate and conserve the entire Saltdean Lido complex to use all year round as a centre for Saltdean. This grant will help them open the pool in summer 2015 and run community events and a cafe.
Eyes Open Community Interest Company, Suffolk
£266, 968 – the aim of this project is to purchase the freehold to a Grade II* listed former bank ensuring the sustainability of a Community Arts Centre in the small market town of Eye in rural Suffolk.
Ilmington Community Shop Ltd, Warwickshire
£135,000 as a contribution towards the purchase and refurbishment costs of a church building no longer used as a place of worship. The building will be converted into a viable community centre consisting of a shop and café. The shop will also serve as an informal meeting place particularly in the summer as it is regularly visited by cyclists and walkers passing through. This new venture will bring social, economic and environmental benefits to the area and will also be of particular benefit to residents who find walking difficult.
Squash Nutrition, Liverpool
£382,573 to purchase and develop derelict land in Toxteth, Liverpool, to build and develop a community food centre called Toxteth Food Central. The group intend to build a space from which they can deliver community services and develop an integrated community food garden. Services will include skills training, volunteer experiences, fairly priced food in an urban food shop, free nutritional health training, a local community cafe and opportunities for sharing health support.
The Reader Organisation, Liverpool
£382,573 to refurbish the Calderstones Barn and Stable Block at Calderstones Park in Liverpool, transferred in January 2013 from Liverpool City Council. The barn and stable buildings will be converted into a ‘Story Barn’, a children and families focused community provision aimed at providing high quality reading events and activities for the local and wider region.
Willowbrook Hospice, St Helens
£400,000 to purchase and renovate Alexander House, the former Pilkingtons Glass head office. The building has lain empty for 6 years and is now derelict. The grant will allow for the creation of a community Wellbeing Centre where patients approaching the end of their lives and their families can meet for positive support, giving them the confidence to be cared for at home and keeping them out of hospital.
