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Wembdon Community Youth Project update 30th June 2021

Project Management

  • Chris Escott has produced a bill of materials and has obtained 3 quotes from suppliers for each category of materials.
  • Work has started! Bobby Hughes (volunteer plumber) and Chris Escott have installed pipework which will connect the proposed underfloor heating to the existing hall system.
  • Bridgwater and Taunton College is very keen to bring their vocational students to work on our project. They will be supervised by their tutors and will be able to help with carpentry, electrics, plumbing, painting and decorating and possibly with dry-lining.
  • Architects – Eleven10 are to provide architect services and Dave Gamblin has started work on the drawings
  • Sedgemoor Building Control has been consulted about the project. They have agreed that we can have a servery and small bar in the upstairs room and that the room can be used by 60 persons.
  • If we can obtain enough money for the lift and for building materials we wish to start the main part of the project in September.
  • If anyone has a contact in a builder’s merchant which might be prepared to donate materials please let us know.

Engagement with Young People

  • The initial results from an on-line survey of secondary school pupils in Bridgwater conducted by Neil Dickinson showed a definite need for our facility and a willingness to use it. Further results are pending.
  • As well as our two volunteers who have said they would be willing to supervise the young people in the youth space we have found another person with experience in working with young people who is willing to help.
  • We would like to identify a few young people who would like to be involved with the project and who might be interested in managing the youth space when it is up and running.
  • We have met the manager of ‘Young Somerset’. They specialise in running youth facilities and also in engaging with troubled young people. They would like to run youth sessions in our facility, and would provide adults to support and supervise the young people.
  • We have also received support from ‘Volunteer It Yourself’ (VIY) which is an organisation which mentors young people to gain work experience and qualifications on construction projects under the supervision of qualified tradespeople. They are able to obtain grants for materials from Toolstation and Sport England. VIY and Bridgwater and Taunton College would be happy to work together.

Finances

  • Our accountant has advised that we can purchase materials at zero VAT so the project cost has been reduced to circa £77,000 including a 20% contingency.
  • We have secured grants from Joseph Casson Estate Agents, Sedgemoor District Council, the Wesleyan Group, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Elmgrant Trust, and another source, totalling £27,500.
  • We awaiting decisions on 13 other grant applications.
  • We are exploring the possibility of crowd funding. If anyone has any previous experience of this we would be grateful for help and advice. Also it would be good if anyone was willing to organise local fundraising events. All sources of income would be welcome, no matter how small.

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