July 2023
Since our last update we have heard from the National Lottery that our request for £1.16M was rejected, not because it is not a worthy cause but because, it seems, their maximum at the moment for capital projects is significantly below this figure. There are enormous numbers of applications for funding and we believe ours is a very good match to the aims and aspirations of the National Lottery, so we are submitting a second application. This second one is for £275,000 which we believe is realistic and we can still complete the original design with this level of input.
As reported in our last update our build has been overtaken by financial increases across the board in all aspects of life but particularly in the building trade. Our £1.5m design ended up at £2.46m. Even with the possibility of the Parish Council getting a loan to make up some of the difference we would still only have £1.8m.
The working group then looked at various options to reduce the cost to £1.8m. Some of this was achieved by ‘value engineering’ as mentioned in the last update, some by applying for small, more local grants and some by looking at reducing the build a little in a way that the bits removed could be added later when funds allow. Unfortunately reducing the build did not make a big enough initial saving to make this a viable option once it was costed.
Small grants are desirable but we cannot count on them at this point, as they mostly involve grants to enhance aspects of buildings already in existence or at least being built. These will become more important once we can get our building started, but to do this we need the full basic funding in place. This leaves us with a building that could still be built for approximately £2.1m. We can only count on £1.8m, therefore, a lottery grant of £275,000 would enable us to build our original design with a reduced specification some of which could be added back in the future.
Our next steps are now in progress:
Apply for a smaller National Lottery grant.
Work with the chosen contractor to get as close to our budget as possible.
Pay for a ground survey in the expectation that we can make substantial savings on ground and drainage works which was a high price item. (This item could be reduced with accurate surveys of existing services and their location).
Continue to look for smaller grants.
Continue to raise money locally towards the extras that will add value to the project like more extensive, enhanced landscaping.
Despite these set-backs, the Hardwick Community Centre Working Group (HCCWG) remains committed to building a vibrant hub for local activities through this unique opportunity to serve the village. Please support the Community Centre, whether financially, by spreading the word to neighbours, or by sharing our updates on social media. You can stay informed and monitor progress via our website. Together, we can build a centre to support our community.
Alan West on behalf of HCCWG.