Posted on behalf of The Ubele Initiative:
As the Jamaican adage goes: “one hand can’t clap”, and it is in this vein we appealed to those able to respond to our research. We are trying to answer the question: What are the implications for civil society in communities owning their own assets and what are the benefits and value of owning a cultural and community asset?
Following this survey, The Ubele Initiative has now launched a series of workshops where those interested in the research can get involved in the conversations around the themes that emerged from this research. These sessions provide both an opportunity to hear what we have found out so far and where you can help to add value to the next phase of the research.
The presenters:
13th February: Conversation # 1: With Steph Prentis of Bradford Impact Hub
- Why is it important to acquire a physical ‘community asset’?
- Is a physical community asset acquisition the only way to deliver services?
Steph Prentis is the Business Development Manager at Impact Hub, Bradford. They have secured a development grant from the AHF to kick start a significant refurbishment of a Grade ll listed building in Bradford, with the intention of developing this into a modern community facility. Steph will share her insights into the process of securing the funding and challenges.
16 February: Conversation # 2 with Matt Fazal of Power to Change
- What options exist that has not yet been explored or tried in the acquisition of community assets?
- To what extent has collaboration and ‘asset sharing’ been explored?
Matt Fazal, leads on Power to Change’s community shares work with Co-op UK and other partners to ensure all the support available, including early-stage capabilities support, is reaching more diverse audiences and is designed in an appropriate way (see Community Shares Booster – Power to Change).
21 February: Conversation # 3 with Josh Falconer-Roberts of The Ubele Initiative
- Are BAME led organisations setting their sights too low when applying for funding to sustain their services? What is out there to support asset acquisition?
- Do organisations have the right organisational structure and leadership to secure assets and/or are the organisations driving the journey the right ones?
Josh Falconer-Roberts is a Programme Manager at The Ubele Initiative and is leading on the Community Recovery Funding/Flexible Finance Loan programme. Josh will offer some insights into the ‘Flexible Finance Loan’ scheme: what it is, why organisations might want to consider it and what makes it of particular consideration. Many Black and minoritized community organisations have for long considered grant aid to be the way forward, especially in the acquisition of physical community assets, Flexible Finance Loan offers another perspective.
Book for 13th February
Book for 16th February
Book for 21st February
