First Round of Feasibility Grants Issued
17th June 2010
The first round of grants have been issued for our feasibility fund. We are pleased to announce that Headway Arts, GVOC and Natural Ability have all received £2000 to go towards the cost of undertaking a feasibility study for their respective capital development projects.
Below is a summary of their proposed projects...
Headway Arts
Headway Arts is looking to develop a new arts resource building on the quayfront area of Blyth. Their vision is to create a landmark building which will reach out to the rest of the region and provide a model of good practice in creativity and inclusivity, in this country and internationally. The building will give residents access to a diverse range of cultural events, to broaden their horizons and develop the creative power of their imaginations, enabling the local and regional community to realise, develop and express their natural creativity. The new resource building will attract new artists and enable increased opportunities for participation by a wide range of local people and through outreach work with communities across the region. It is anticipated that it will be a new build project, possibly as part of a larger cultural development scheme in the area where several organisations are involved in the creation of a cultural hub.
Natural Ability
Natural Ability is planning to purchase a farm with outbuildings and approximately 27 acres of land. The farm includes a five-bedroom house, which they intend to convert to multiple-occupancy for five young adults with learning disabilities. There is also a two-bedroom cottage which will be let to two learning disabled people with lower support needs. In the long term, Natural Ability hopes to convert an old mill building on the same site for short break provision for disabled people. They will provide agricultural work, training and education for disabled and non-disabled people on the farm and plan to develop horse livery, dog and cat boarding facilities and environmental projects which will provide work for disabled people who live on the farm or who visit.
GVOC
GVOC propose to build a single storey 50 seater conference/training facility with up-to-date training resources installed. The development will be connected to the main building enabling access from inside John Haswell House or from the car park at the rear. The feasibility grant will go towards undertaking a full feasibility study with the VCS, SME’s and the statutory sector in Gateshead and surrounding areas on the potential usage of the new facility.
