Building a 'vibrant hub for the community'

From Page 1

The MVCA is carrying out a three-phase development plan to transform the former council housing office in Meadow Vale, which it first took over as a derelict building in 1985.

Phase one, a £97,000 refurbishment of the original building, finished in 2018, and included a kitchen suitable for catering events.

But the building only had a capacity of 33 people, and when the pandemic arrived in 2020, covid restrictions meant no more than three could enter it at once, emphasising that a bigger space was needed to serve the community.

The centre had been closed ever since - but behind the scenes a small team of volunteers has been working tirelessly on the transformation.

Both the old and new buildings welcomed residents at an open day on May 29.

The MVCA was offered the chance to expand the centre using £200,000 of funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy fund - money paid to the city council by developers building in Bristol - but had to raise its own funding to match the grant.

The charity's trustees won grants from bodies including the Enovert Trust, which distributes money from landfill charges, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Bristol-based Quartet Foundation and John James Foundation.

MVCA chairperson Fiona Russell said: "Getting the chance of £200,000 from the CIL fund spurred our dream team to go for it, and since then we have raised another £200,000, which has given us a lovely big hall and increased our capacity to 133, which should mean we are now able to provide activities for all ages."

Free judo sessions by local club Drake Judo are being held on Monday evenings to bring people into the hall, which has an accessible toilet and kitchen of its own.

Fiona said: "As soon as we are able to start hiring the hall, the profit will go into enhancement.

"Locals would like keep fit, toddler groups, workshops and exhibitions here, and we wish to cater for all ages and abilities."

The third phase of the transformation is an outdoor space, with a seating area and kitchen garden. The project, which will cost around £100,000, also involves new fencing, a gate to Meadow Vale Park and new surfacing.

Some funding could come from the council's Community Resilience Fund, created to support organisations working in the city's more deprived areas.

Speedwell is divided between two council wards, Eastville and St George Central.

Councillor Nicola Beech, whose St George Central ward includes the hall, is a trustee of the MVCA.

She said: "My personal view is that for a long time it's felt like Speedwell has been left behind and something of a forgotten community.

"This hall is a symbol of change. It shows the community we can have a bright future.

"A group of six or seven trustees has done this on their own - now we need Speedwell residents to get involved and get the community back engaged in Meadow Vale, as they were before the pandemic."

Deputy chair Lindsey Fuller, a retired head of Speedwell Nursery School, has been involved in the MCVA for ten years.

She said: "We've now got the buildings we need to get the services up and running.

"We want ideas and helpers - a volunteer base so we can become a vibrant hub for the community."

Treasurer Jim Currie first got involved when, as president of Bristol Rotary Club in 2017-18, he was looking for a project to support that made a difference to a community.

Five years on, he has coordinated fundraising, secured grants, managed the building project and, as Rotary's West of England district governor, is encouraging members to join him "getting our hands dirty" doing practical work, including weeding and cleaning the site.

He said: "Now we're moving from a building project to a community project."

Anyone who is interested in running sessions in either hall can text Fiona on 07849 801709. Anyone interested in volunteering can get in touch via the MVCA website, www. mvcaspeedwell.com, Facebook page, or by visiting the centre.