Bridgend Inspiring Growth – meeting 07/02/2011

In attendance: John Knox, Anna Danby, Will Golding, Jade Littlewood and Roz Pollock

Apologies from: Chris Macefield, Soraya Bishop, Ellie Forgan, Lyndsey McLellan and Ron Carthy

 Discussion was had about how to obtain more accurate costing for the renovation of the
farmhouse as currently we only have a rough estimate
o Jade to investigate and research how we might get more accurate costings
o Another structural survey has just been completed which will help give a better idea
of the current state of the building
o Need an Environ survey completed to ensure the site the building is on is stable –
this is in the processes of being investigated.

 Discussed the potential of doing some artistic impressions of what the site could become to
be used to inspire people about the project and also useful for any finding applications
 Will to put Jade in touch with Malcolm Fraser and Peter so they can provide the
details needed to do said drawings

 Possibility of doing some training with Glasshouse design who can provide advice on how to
engage communities in the design process.

 There was a feeling that the desired function of the building should determine the design
and not the other way around and therefore we should conduct some more research to find
out exactly what organisations might want to use the space for. However, also need to near
in mind that the farmhouse could also cater for currently non-existent organisations.
 Will to send Anna a contact list for organisations to write to them and ask the
following questions...
1. What would you use the building for?
2. What materials/resources would you need?
3. What, if anything, would you be willing to pay to use it?
4. How much space would you need?
5. How many people would use it?
6. How regularly might you want to use it?
7. Would it save you any money?
8. Would it mean you could do anything that is currently not possible for your
organisation?

 Discussion about how to apply for funding focussed on the fact that we need to know what we
are planning to will CHANGE in the area? Not just the physical aspects of what we are going to
do. Remains unclear how precise we have to be with our intended outcomes e.g. do we need
to specify a target group or can we be more vague.
o Roz to forward some information from a course on Social Inclusion Policy
 Plans are progressing for the outreach and events to be help to promote the work the
farmhouse wishes to support in the future and bring more people from the local community in
contact with the project. Possibilities so far include:
o Monthly workshop and cinema event
Partner project with the Woodcraft Folk, Guerilla Cinema and Alchemy Arts
where once a month an evening of sustainable workshop
(crafts/skills/practical) followed by a simple communal meal and a film
showing on the guerrilla cinema
If the mountain bike train goes ahead in the future could be the potential to
have an evening themed along bikes with participants spending some time
constructing the train before coming back to bridgend for food and film

o Weekly drop in
Weekly drop in session during the day to build on work already being done
at bridgend where people can come along to learn about sustainable
crafts/tools/techniques.
Possibility to apply for CCF funding to help with this

 Outreach events coming up if people can attend are Potato Day 11 – 2pm at Bridgend on the
20th Feb and Edinburgh Volunteer Fair where we have a stand 12 – 3 on the 23 rd Feb.

 Request that people keep a record of all the hours of work they are doing towards the project
and what sort of work as it may be useful to show how much moneys worth of time we have
put in when applying for funding.

 Reiteration of the point that we really need to develop a more solid business plan. John to
speak to Ron Carthy about this. Also potential to get free training courses from Business
Gateway and Launch Ed.

 Desire to improve community engagement through possibly having a newsletter to send out
to all our members so they can remain informed and feel they are part of something that is
active. Also a desire to improve the blog – Will to add an ‘about’ section – and to set up a
better website. Anna to investigate the possibilities of doing this.

 Next meeting informally at Potato Day on the 20 th and they at John’s house afterwards with
another to follow on a weekday in early March.