PROJECT STATUS REPORT

Flagship Project - 1

 

SKILL (South Kerrier Initiative for Linking Learning) – Extended Schools Project and Community Change Team

            The South Kerrier Initiative for Linking Learning - Extended Schools Project is a partnership project that is creating a learning community providing support and services for families and young people.

            Helston Community College, Mullion Community School and twenty-two local Primary Schools are developing the Project across South Kerrier. Working closely with statutory agencies the Project will support young people and parents, providing practical help through the provision of before and after school clubs and activities.

            The Project will offer study support for school students and targeted support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. Activities for children and young people taking place over 48 weeks of the year will also be provided together with health and welfare services and support for vulnerable groups.

            The SKILL Extended Schools Project will enable the wider community to use sports, arts and Information and Communication Technology facilities.

The Alliance supports SKILL because it will make an important contribution to the future of South Kerrier by addressing priorities identified by numerous community groups, which have contributed to this plan.

The Project will address a number of important needs identified in the strategic Themes above, including:

 

 

 

 

PROJECT STATUS REPORT

 

Flagship Project - 2

 

 

A co-ordinator and manager for community facilities

            There is a lack of modern community facilities across South Kerrier.  The Alliance supports the renovation of community halls and meeting places and wishes to see a long term plan developed to update and refurbish existing community facilities and the building of new community facilities to address the gaps in existing and proposed provision.

Following a feasibility study and business plan completed earlier this year for the Epworth Hall, a newly formed Development Committee is now fund raising for a major renovation of the Hall.

Porthleven also has important community buildings that need to be renovated and improved or extended: these include Porthleven Methodist Church and The Bickford Smith Institute.  

Recently published Parish Plans for the ‘Five Parishes’ Group highlight the need to renovate village halls and community meeting places and provide new facilities. 

Young people and Youth Workers who contributed to this plan highlighted the need to provide new facilities for young people to meet.

The Alliance wants to work with partners to develop a business plan and secure funds to employ a Community Facilities Co-ordinator.  The Co-ordinator would be available to support local groups, provide co-ordination and offer expert advice developing business planning for capital and revenue management of community facilities.

The Alliance recognises that in the future there will need to be new ways to finance community facilities. The Alliance wants to encourage communities to explore new ways of funding and financing community-meeting places that will complement traditional forms of fund raising and grant aid.

 

 

PROJECT STATUS REPORT

 

Flagship Project - 3

 

TATUS REPORT

A purpose built local Food Market and Sustainability Visitors’ Centre

The Alliance wants to develop practical ways to support farmers, growers, fishermen and food and drink producers in South Kerrier and across West Cornwall.  Numerous consultation exercises have highlighted local people’s support for using the former Cattle Market site at St. Johns, Helston as a quality outlet for local produce.

The Alliance put forward proposals for an integrated development on the Cattle Market site incorporating a local produce market supporting local farmers and businesses, a high quality visitors centre to educate people on the relationship between agriculture and the unique environment of South Kerrier and flexible space to be used by the community.

This facility would form the hub of a physical corridor, linking Helston town centre, its heritage ‘trail’ and market town facilities, with St Johns. The Centre would act as a gateway to the network of accessible footpaths down to Loe Pool – The Penrose Estate, Loe Bar, the coastal footpath, Porthleven and The Lizard.

The local produce outlet would be the cornerstone of a vibrant local food economy supplying visitors, locals and businesses with the best local ingredients.  The Visitors’ Centre would provide opportunities for visitors and local people to understand and value the local environment, both farmed and natural.  These elements will combine to form a high quality attraction providing the opportunity to create new economic relationships and understanding between visitors, local people and local producers. 

The Alliance believes that this proposal would make a significant contribution to creating a viable local food economy and a focal point for South Kerrier and West Cornwall that addresses a number of the plan’s overarching themes.

The Alliance, together with Kerrier District Council, has commissioned a feasibility study to research the viability of the project.  The study has found that a facility including an unmanned interactive visitors interpretation area and local produce outlet could be self sustaining if combined with some rental office space. The scheme will need 100% capital funding and effective management of the development will be vital for long term financial sustainability.

The consultants have now been asked to extend the study to research the feasibility of incorporating a comprehensive Tourist Information Centre facility within the proposed development.

A decision on the proposed development of the site is expected in towards the end of 2006.

 

 

 

PROJECT STATUS REPORT

 

Flagship Project