Friends

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OVERSLADE

A community effort to improve the quality of life for residents of Overslade in Rugby, has received a massive boost with the award of a National Lottery grant of £410,309 to expand Overslade Community Centre.

Overslade Community Association’s ‘Building for the Future’ project will improve the existing very small Community Centre in a number of ways. The main feature is a large extension that will house a new multi-purpose hall, with a social area to the side suitable for refreshments, a young people’s drop-in, or a meeting room. A further extension will enable the existing hall to be retained, but moved to make room for a bigger kitchen, an additional small meeting room for private consultations and a reception and office area. There will also be a new suite of toilets.

Funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s ‘Community Buildings Programme’, the extended building will allow multi-use and provide locally accessible services for the residents of the Overslade area. Activities and services will include Youth Clubs, community policing, Credit Union, debt counselling, Residents’ Association, MIND, educational courses, an over 50’s club, toddler play sessions, respite sessions for carers of children with disabilities, music groups, keep fit, as well as the Overslade Community Church. It is estimated that about 3,000 local residents and 30 organisations will benefit from the project.

Alan Cartwright, the project manager said, “I am confident that today’s funding for this project will make a huge difference to the lives of all residents and will especially benefit children and young people. We want this project to help create a positive change to the public image of Overslade area, by allowing residents access to facilities that will help them help themselves.

“The arson attack on the Centre in 2005 was a wake-up call to the problems in the area. The community wanted change and that’s when we set out improve facilities in the area. Over the last three years we have had growing support from residents, local authorities, the church, and many other groups, for which we are tremendously grateful. As a result we have been continuously developing our design for the Centre to meet the needs that we uncovered in our consultations. It is a great project: it benefits young and old alike, and gives a better future for us on Overslade and we are delighted with this Lottery funding. It will go a long way towards achieving our goal.”

Councillor John Vereker, Project Group member said, "Having been involved in creating the original Centre, a generation ago it's been fascinating to work on the new plans. It is as if the acorn we planted then has grown into a magnificent tree; a wonderful community asset to be created with the help of so many."

Please continue to pray for a good out-turn from the various grant agencies that we have applied for match funding from.

Below Project members celebrate the news of the Lottery award

Building for the Future Project

The Overslade Community Association formed the Building for the Future Project Group over two years ago to develop the idea of extensions to the Centre. The actual project is based around specific needs of residents - particularly young people - who have very few outlets for social and recreational development on the estate. So the main objectives are to provide facilities to enable lots of activities to take place for young and old, together or separately,

The Project group has a loose membership to enable as many people as possible to be involved and we acknowledge the huge support of residents, young people, the Overslade Church, Residents Association, Warwickshire County Council, Rugby Borough Council, local schools heads, It is managed entirely by volunteers.

MORE DETAILS
The Centre was built in 1991 to replace the earlier Centre building that was demolished to make way for new housing. It consists of just a hall, kitchen and toilets; the hall is small, cramped and ill-suited to children or youth activities.

An arson attack on the Centre in 2005 effectively destroyed community activity in an area that already lacked other social facilities. The Centre was rebuilt under building insurance, but the idea of developing a bigger Centre was born and the project “Building for the Future” was set up.

Over more than two years extensive efforts were made to consult with residents, local authorities, the police and all local groups and to work together to improve Overslade.

Already a major benefit of the project is the increased interest in the community, which has resulted in the launch of a very successful Residents Association, a growing Church and a host of new activities for all ages, all of which highlight the need for the new Centre.

In the last two years we have had donations and grants totalling over £70,000 to cover the preliminary development work and design. We are truly grateful to local partners, residents and local government departments who have shown confidence in the project.

The capital cost of the project is estimated as £570,609 of which we have now secured £470,871, leaving us with about £100,000 to find. We are actively seeking grants from various bodies including local companies.

Overslade Community Association (OCA)
President: Cllr John Vereker, Warwickshire County Council,
Chairwoman: Cllr Tina Avis, Rugby Borough Council
Secretary: Margaret Pizzey
Treasurer: Phil Thomas
Project Manager Alan Cartwright

Building for the Future’ Project Group (part of OCA) Membership is flexible, drawn from all interested parties, but all are volunteers. Groups consulted or who sent reps at various stages have included: local primary and secondary schools, Warwickshire Police, various departments of Rugby and Warwickshire local authorities, existing users of the Centre and local residents.

Core members are as follows. Apart from Jim Sorrell, all are doing this as volunteers.

Rev Dr Alan Cartwright, Project Manager
Cllr John Vereker, Warwickshire CC, President of OCA
Tracey Fellows, Chair, Overslade Residents’ Association and local resident
Michelle Bridges, Overslade Residents’ Association and local resident
Phil Thomas, Treasurer OCA
Christine Slater, Overslade Community Development Officer, WCC
Cllr Tina Avis, Rugby BC, Chair OCA
Jim Sorrell, Architect, Michael Partridge Project Partnership Ltd, Coventry

We also acknowledge the contribution of
Liisa Wiseman who prepared the Business Plan and supporting documents,
Hannah Cramp who advised on many technical aspects of making grant applications
Experts from Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council who gave excellent support.

Other News: Ordination June 2008

Alan's ordination as Priest took place on 29th June 08 at Coventry Cathedral, along with 7 other priests and 7 deacons. Four of the ordinations were from Rugby! Perhaps a take-over bid! Alan had the unusual privilege of following in his son's footsteps as Simon was ordained last year in Birmingham.