Community Centre Report to APM
27th April 2017
Cutting the first sod was performed by Devon County Councillor Kevin Ball on the 18th May. This event was publicised in both local papers. At this point may I say that Councillor Ball has and continues to be a good friend to Lifton Community Centre helping us with funding when and whenever he can.
By the beginning of June Mike Webber had excavated the site in preparation for the start of the build. Following the excavating of the site, we invited five local contractors to tender for the building of the Centre. On 13th July, the tenders were opened two were over budget significantly, of the other three negations were started to see if the tenders could be reduced in size. This process took longer than the Trustees first envisaged but by DecemberDevon Contractors had emerged with the most completive tender. They took possession of the site on 9th January this year and they aim to have the building completion by the end of July. As it can be seen the Community Centre is well on the way to its completed shape. With the roof slated, the walls about to be clad and windows added; then the scaffolding will be removed the outside will be there in all its glory to be viewed by Lifton. Of course the internal fitting still needs to be done. The trustees are looking towards the start of October for the opening of the Centre for use by the Community. We (the Trustees) are already receiving enquiries about the hiring of the Centre and we are busy drawing up all the various documents for the governance and also the costing that we will have to charge for the hire of the various areas of the Centre; to make the Centre an economic viable unit but also affordable for those who wish to use whatever part of the Centre they need.
Some of our Fund raising in the past twelve months has been
The London Marathon was run by Vin Marshal and Vicki Holt they raised £2,690 in sponsorship. Vin Marshall also ran the Weston-Super-Mare half marathon raising another £315
We had a £1,000 cheque from the Devonshire Freemasons
In October Kevin Ball (Devon County Councillor) has secured for us £9,000 (from the Sale of Exeter Airport Fund)
In December The Scouts Christmas Concert at the Church raised £40, our thanks, to Peter Morris, for organising it.
Of course the trustee’s thanks also go to S. T. Lane, the Village Shop and the Farm Shop for allowing the collection boxes to be on their counters. £87.50 was collected this way. The flow of cash, into these boxes, has increased since the start of the building which, I feel, shows that village interest in the Community Centre is increasing. The regular donations via the “Pound a Day” scheme also help to swell the coffers. The main name that should not be passed by without a mention is Mandy Kenyon. Mandy is our conduit of communication with the Big Lottery and it was her efforts that persuaded the Big Lottery to produce £565,000 towards the building costs of the Centre, she has also extracted other sums of money from other funding bodies for the build of the Community centre. In fact if it had not been for her tireless work we would not be at the stage that we are at today.
May I finish with a sombre note? Just because the main part of the Community Centre is being built and will be open for use later this year. This is not the end of our fund raising or building quest; it is only the first phase. We have a second phase to be built which will give the Centre two extra meeting rooms and improved appearance of the car park entrance. So please continue your support, so a fully complete Community Centre can be finished as soon as possible.