Community Asset Transfer case study: Ebbw Vale Institute

Background

In 2007, ProMo-Cymru approached the council to take on the major task of saving and restoring the historic building and turn it into a sustainable cultural centre of community activity and learning; which was its original function when it opened its doors as the first educational institute in Wales. 

The challenge of restoring the Institute to its former glory began with initial funding from the Heads of the Valley Project. 

Following the launch of the Big Lottery’s Community Asset Transfer Fund, ProMo-Cymru then approached the council for a freehold Community Asset Transfer. 

The transfer was completed in May 2012 and a £750,000 Big Lottery grant was secured, with support from DTA Wales, to complete the restoration.

Business 

ProMo-Cymru Ltd, a registered charity, was established in 1982 as South Wales Co-operative Development Association to develop, train and support business, utilising co-operative principles and community development aspects wherever possible. 

The underpinning themes of ProMo-Cymru’s work are to empower, sustain and develop young people and to sustain and work in partnership with others in the social and economic context for lifelong learning, personal and community development. 

The Ebbw Vale Institute and Cultural Centre Project (EVi) is a landmark initiative of ProMo-Cymru.

Details 

The Institute provides the following services:

• Cafe – Open to the public and offers snacks and meals with free Wi-Fi access;
• Training and Workshops – Courses include music tuition, event management, art classes and photography. Training facilities can be used for private hire;
• Venue with Licensed Bar – Events, concerts, wedding receptions and parties;
• Conference Facilities – Full conference facilities including boardroom meeting spaces and breakout rooms; 
• Recording Studio – State of the art recording facilities available for tuition, workshops and private hire;
• Rehearsal Rooms – Fully equipped music rehearsal rooms and dance studios;
• Video Editing – Apple based video editing suite available for training workshops and private hire;
• Business Incubation – Provides hot desk spaces, professional facilities and support for businesses hoping to develop and grow. 

The building is now used for a wide variety of functions including award ceremonies, business meetings, weddings, musical events, training and education, community socialising and much more. 

ProMo-Cymru works in partnership with a wide range of groups and organisations including: 

• Blaenau Gwent CBC
• Princes Trust
• WEA
• Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations
• BRFM (community radio station)
• The Rotary Club
• Encore Academy
• Blaenau Gwent Young Stars
• Ebbw Vale Operatic Society
• Coleg Gwent

Benefits 

The primary benefits of ProMo-Cymru taking ownership of the Ebbw Vale Institute are: 

• The building has been saved as a community facility; and
• The change of ownership meant that grant funding could be used to carry out immediate and necessary work to save the building, and also to refurbish the interior to a high standard. This included the installation of a café restaurant, a state of the art recording studio, a main hall venue for events serving the community and local businesses, and training rooms and facilities for educational purposes. As a charity, ProMo-Cymru has much more flexibility in what it can offer in terms of service and has the freedom to apply for grant funding to help maintain and sustain the facility. This includes the setting up and running of a wide variety of projects including music, drama, adult education and community courses.

Lessons learned

• Be flexible in respect of the tenure to transfer; and
• The Community Asset Transfer of EVi required the council to be more flexible on the tenure they were prepared to transfer as initially they would only consider a leasehold transfer. However, the conditions for grant funders investing significant funds such as the Big Lottery specified a freehold transfer. The council subsequently ensured that their Community Asset Transfer Policy, whilst making a presumption that transfers would be made on a leasehold basis, still provided the flexibility for a freehold transfer in exceptional circumstances, for example where significant grant funding depended on it.

Further information