Preserving Heritage, Building the Future: Stretford Public Hall's COF journey

Published: 25 Sep 2023 Updated: 20 Oct 2023
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Stretford Public Hall, a beloved institution in Trafford, Manchester, dates back to 1878, thanks to the philanthropy of John Rylands. Over the years, it has served as a civic hall, town library, theatre, and council offices.

Now under community ownership, it plays a vital role in the local community, hosting arts events and providing essential services. However, to ensure its sustainability and functionality for the future, it requires crucial investments.

One priority is improving energy efficiency to reduce costs and the Hall’s carbon footprint, while also creating more event spaces. Most urgently, the aging roof needs repairs, as it has struggled with recent climate changes, causing damage that affects key areas like the artists' studios and the ballroom.

By addressing these repairs, they can offer weddings and corporate events to generate income for affordable community activities. This transformation will secure a vibrant future for Stretford Public Hall, preserving its legacy.

Funding the project

Stretford Public Hall has been awarded £288k by the Community Ownership Fund. This will go toward enhancing energy efficiency within the hall and addressing urgent roof repairs. This investment will ensure a resilient future for the hall, safeguarding its role as a community hub and enabling a diverse range of activities.

This includes £48k in revenue funding, that will primarily cover professional fees associated with capital works, including an architect practice.

In November, they are set to launch a new community share offer to raise the match funding required. The group received a small grant alongside in-depth support, which will be used to help develop and deliver a community engagement campaign for the new offer.

This follows a successful share offer in 2017. The area surrounding the hall has experienced significant redevelopment since then, and they are particularly focused on engaging new residents of Stretford, as well as previous investors and current users of the hall.

Getting the right support

The group received support from Cooperatives UK through the Community Ownership Fund support programme. This support has been vital in helping them prepare their Community Ownership Fund (COF) application and in crafting a robust business plan for the next five years.

This support has enabled Stretford Public Hall to decide their most immediate investment priorities and helped them develop and prepare for their ambitious longer-term refurbishment plans.

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