An end-of-year update for all of our community and to everyone following the progress of the project.
We are aware that the lack of events that have run this year has limited our chances to talk directly to people and may have given the impression that our work had stopped, please be assured that this is not the case. While changes in most of our members’ personal lives have presented challenges, we remain committed to seeing this through and delivering something tangible for the community.
In October we entered negotiations with an experienced bid writer who, our members decided, would be required to help with applications for the capital funding. We need this in order to complete the building works that are required to get the doors open on Project Hive.
We can now confirm that James Johnson of Johnson’s Grants For Non-Profits will be working on our behalf to identify the most appropriate funding streams. Locally, he recently supported the New Parks Adventure Playground to secure funding for their outside play area. We are currently working alongside James to complete expressions of interest for several funding streams to split the total cost needed between them.
In addition to this, as we go into the new year, Western Ward Community Enterprise will become Western Ward CIC. We hope that becoming a Community Interest Company will provide assurance that we exist to benefit our community and not for private profit.
In January we are also planning a series of consultation meetings with stakeholders that will give you a chance to feedback to our group your views, opinions and hopes for the project. A lot has happened since we last did this in early 2020.
We wish you all a happy and healthy new year and look forward to seeing you soon.