THE UNIT - more info and updates
The managing organisation is Firestarter Arts Social Enterprise, (a new Community Interest Company) and the project will link/work in partnership with other local agencies and organisations.
see also http://artsmonkey.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/adventures-in-social-enterprise-the-unit/
September 2009
So far the group of young people involved in setting up this project have been granted two pots of funding, one from the Councils Area Board and one from O2, they have applied for two more grants, have canvassed local opinion on the streets and made a film about the response, featured on local radio who will be broadcasting live from 'The Unit' when it opens, collated various letters of support including the Head of the local council, local MP's, local arts organisations and WYAP a countywide youth arts organisation, Helen Marriage from Artichoke... they have met with local committees and put their case for the project forward, set up twitter, myspace and facebook pages and a live journal blog - its very exciting to see young people getting to grips with local politics, community interests and speaking on their own behalf at public meetings.
October 2009
Flo and Lottie attended an area board meeting of the Wiltshire Council where they had five minutes to present their case to a room containing Council reps and other people seeking funding see here for Lotties blog about it . The four and a half thousand pounds granted will pay for the lease of the empty shop unit for a year and also cover some other vital costs. THE UNIT is officially a goer - YAY! Also this month O2 have arranged for a photo session at the Unit to help gain some publicity. We also visited Salisbury Tourist Information Centre who have really put us in the picture about where problems may occur, where to go, what to consider and let us look through their shelving catalogues!
Dec 2009
So nearly there now. Ruth lost two weeks to swine flu but a generous local painter and decorator gave the whole place a much needed coat of gloss and industrial eggshell. Awards for All stepped up to the plate and awarded a grant to enable the purchase of Lap-tops, a Plasma screen to broadcast info and videos etc., Juliet is off to Ikea with Lottie to purchase some furniture so there's something to sit on. Keith and Nessa have been manning The Unit two days a week to sign up volunteers. We're investigating 'Future Jobs' to see if there could be a place for a part-time assistant project manager to support Keith. Flo has been investigating 'Kit' (phones, laptops, water machines etc.) our young photographer Julian is advising on technical issues, Daisy is contributing some design input and all being well we'll be having an opening celebration in time for late-night shopping next week. We have all realised that taking on an empty shop is not a simple process, from legal issues like leases to security issues, to health and safety, to people handling, to keeping the momentum going whilst we deal with the unexpected and resolve the challenges BUT it will be so worth it in the end. Not least, to see all the time invested by our young people on the intial 'set-up' team who have advocated, promoted, sought opinion, spoken at council meetings, met with local dignitaries and politicians and councillors and policemen....fund-raised and are continuing along a huge learning curve regarding practical issues not usually faced until much later on in adult-hood! So, to balance the grim reality of dotting i's and crossing t's we'll also be putting up Christmas decorations next week - YAY!