New year, same mission — Advancing towards the Broomhill Hub

Campaign update #8

Hi there! This is the latest missive from the campaign for the community ownership of the bowling green on Randolph road. This newsletter went out to over 570 local residents. If this newsletter was forwarded on, you can sign up here:

🎉Scottish Land Fund Stage 1 Application Submitted 🎉

If you recall, last year we ran a successful campaign to activate you, our dear community into action. It worked! You guys turned Broomhill into a sea of day-glo green as we asked "What would you do with a Bowling Green?". We successfully surveyed the local area over spring and received 359 responses, which per some back of the envelope maths suggests that we received a response rate of 25% of the households in the local area. We then secured the agreement of the Trustees to allow a valuation of the site. And since November there has been radio silence...

Well, we are back to announce that since our last message we have:

•Established a steering group ✔️

•Progressed the concept ✔️

•Submitted a Scottish Land Fund Stage 1 Application ✔️✔️✔️🎉

Wait, what does that even mean?

Good Question! The Scottish Government (via the Scottish Land Fund) makes money to communities for the purchase of assets (click here if you want to find out more about the community ownership process). However, it would not be good value for money to just let any group buy a piece of land for without a particularly productive use. Instead, this is a two stage process by which communities need to

i) develop an idea for the use of an asset & prove it is a financially feasible idea

ii) if successful only at that stage can one proceed to the asset purchase

What we are announcing today is we have submitted the funding pack for Stage 1.

Per this diagram below describing the journey to community ownership, we are roughly half way there at step 4 🙌

Our funding application has been submitted to the Scottish Land Fund and will be considered in their next funding meeting in a fortnight. If we are successful in obtaining Stage 1 funding we will be given a grant to cover a business feasibility study and further community engagement exercises to be carried out.

In addition, with the support of the Trustees of the Jordanhill Bowling Club we will obtain a valuation and building condition survey for the site. It is our hope that we can then move to a negotiated sale on the basis of this valuation.

So, where to next?

Well, the steering group are not standing still. After all, this is only the beginning. Over the coming months we will continue to develop as an organisation. We will constitute a body to oversee the running of the site and continue to lead the campaign, and eventually we will begin to fundraise and further engage the community.

So, if you're looking to get involved, now is the time to really help make a difference. We are looking for people who will get involved in shaping the idea and concept and help the organisation get up and running. To date, it has been through the generous support of our residents that we have got this far. Perhaps, you too can contribute?

If so, please reply to this message and we will gladly discuss the details and requirements.

Now, of course if you are unable to help in the steering group that is also OK! We are also recruiting avid supporters in the local area with an ad hoc role. If you think you might be able to step up, do please get in touch too! The time commitment can be as little as 30 minutes!