Since we told you in June that the Old Vicarage Flats project was in the list for the Town Deal, we have now had confirmation the project is included and the amount we have been allocated from that fund. It is £610,000.
This is absolutely fantastic news and means we can get to work now to present the business case to draw down those funds, subject to approval from the Town Deal programme.
There is still about £15,000 in match funding to raise too, as we have used this money to pay Cornwall Council extra Council Tax as the Flats are classed as empty homes and taxed at a higher rate. We understand the original concept was not aimed at affordable projects and we are meeting the Cornwall Council Housing Portfolio holder, Olly Monk, to discuss this issue and how groups such as CLTs across Cornwall can be excluded from extra council tax while undertaking community-led projects.
The upshot of all this is we will be left with a gap in our current funds soon. We are talking to St Ives Town Council and Cornwall Council to release either promised funds or new funds to ensure that gap does not materialise.
So, we are appealing to you to think about how you can help to support us through this time.
Below are some suggestions……..
Volunteer or Donate Items
We have been offered a stall at the Farmer’s Market on Thursdays. We have some donated items to sell to raise funds. Please let us know if you can volunteer to be on it for an hour or so. The times would be 0930 to 1330. Or if you have items for us to sell and you haven’t told us about them already. Please contact Jill through our Contact us form.
Set up a regular payment
A number of our members are now sending us a small donation every month as extra support to their previous donations or shares. We thank them very much indeed. If you would like to do the same, please set up a regular payment using the CLT account details you may have already.
You may be in a position to help with a short-term cash flow loan as we wait for funds from the funders mentioned above.
If you need help to set up a payment, please contact Keith our Treasurer through our contact us form.
Attend our Special Fundraising Concert
It’s at this year’s St Ives September Festival and is called St Ives Entertains featuring Shanty group Bamaluz Bootleggers, local musicians Katrina Geraghty and Sophie Andrews, representatives of KidsRUs, award winning duo Dee & Dave Brotherton (Tir ha Tavas) and guests, librettist and poet Bob Devereux PLUS St Ives Community Choir.
Compered by Donna Birrell
Friday 17th September at St Ives Guildhall
Show starts 7.30 pm Doors 7 pm Tickets £11
Click here to book.
Our thanks to Dave and Dee Brotherton, the duo Tir ha Tavas, for their brilliant idea.
Supported by St Ives September Festival, sponsored by Harding Laity Estate Agents
Do Your Own Thing
You may be able to raise funds for us through your own cake bakes, coffee mornings, garden openings, dinners, bring and buy sales, quizzes (Thanks to our friends who donated their prize from St Ives based Liz’s Quizzes to us), treasure hunts, eBay, Facebook marketplace, Ziffit and other platforms’ sales.
