1. Education and Youth Enterprise Centre A presentation to Weald School Governors – 25/03/2011

2. Objective of this Presentation To outline the progress of the EYE project to date and to seek Governors’ support.

3. Project Rationale With the further development of up to 500 houses to the east of the village under discussion, there is bound to be an impact on local amenities – not least schools and provision for young people. The existing youth facilities are confirmed as presently inadequate in terms of location, amenities and purpose* Community ‘inclusion’ projects, amenities and training for disaffected and difficult youths would be central to the project * Demand Review commissioned Jan 2011

4. Project Realisation 2008 the Parish Council and Billingshurst Community Partnership (BPC) commissioned a public consultation process which identified the need for a dedicated, centralised youth facility 2009 a survey of youth was undertaken which confirmed this need 2009 BCP creates Centralised Youth Facility Project (CYF) 2010 Project re-branded Education and Youth Enterprise (EYE)

5. Identified Needs & Obligations Billingshurst Parish Plan 2008 – 2013 ‘…lack of organised facilities for young people’ Community Partnership Plan 2009 - 2012 ‘…providing a centralised youth facility’ Horsham Sustainable Community Strategy ‘…focussing resources on young people… to have equal access to local amenities.

6. Project Viability Project feasibility discussed with and encouraged by senior WSCC youth officers (Aug 2009) WSCC Youth Services offered to provide ongoing revenue* support for such a facility but not capital funding The need for day-time use subsequently identified extra-curriculum youth provision as an urgent need A new-build likely to cost towards £1m * This may now be prejudiced by the 20% cut in youth services in the county.

7. Fact Finding Phase Visits have been made to similar existing facilities in neighbouring towns / villages. Information-gathering consultations have taken place with experienced Youth Leaders. Valuable contacts have been made and a high-level network of decisions-makers has been created Further consultations are ongoing

8. The Story So Far We have commissioned a preliminary building design based on floor plan ‘footprint’ and accommodation schedule We have publicised the EYE project within WSCC and HDC and have assembled a high profile NETWORK of supporters. We have undertaken a professionally conducted DEMAND REVIEW to support demographic / socio economic needs in order to supplement subsequent funding and planning applications. We have established a COMMITTED TEAM of professionals and community volunteers who are dedicated to the success of the project

9. Site Suitability Criteria Near-to-school but for security reasons not within school campus Adequate parking Full services availability Away from main residential areas

10. Potential ‘Gardens’ Site

11. Provisional Floorplan

12. Project Visualisation

13. Site Issues Original ‘Myrtle Lane’ site rendered unusable due to existence of gas main Four other sites considered – two in WSCC ownership and two in parish council ownership Newly preferred parish council-owned site already allocated to Station Road Gardens (SRG) project Formal representations made to SRG and agreement reached to share part of site for EYE building Agreement of new parish council will be required after May elections

14. Establishing Support Practical support is being given by a good cross-section of Local Authority figures and the local community. – WSCC Cabinet Councillors – Peter Griffiths / Peter Evans – Councillors - Amanda Jupp / Pat Arculus (Both WSCC); Peggy Davies (HDC)* – Education – Peter Proudley / Peter Woodman – School Governors – Patrick Perks (Vice-Chairman) / Tony Priestley (Premises / Assets) – Youth Workers – Carole Aspden / Carl Burton / Denise Campbell – Maxine Morrell (WSCC Property / Assets) – Weald Youth Council – Alice Clitheroe / Josh Moore – Community-at-large / Police * A unanimous decision in favour of the project in principle was voted at the parish council meeting of 2 nd February 2011.

15. What is the EYE Centre For? The Centre will have a multi-purpose function but two primary roles: - as an evening and week-end amenity for young people’s activities. -as a day-time facility for extra-curriculum provision Once these core activities have been ‘timetabled’ and prioritised, there will be available time to be filled by other community needs. Other potential community uses are: indoor fairs / meeting rooms overspill from VH / uniformed organisation events / cultural performances / after school clubs / community drop-in centre / local job centre etc NB Many of these events would provide a useful revenue stream to contribute to overheads.

16. Extra-Curriculum Uses Examples of school usage include: 1.Training: IT / DofE Awards / CoPE to KS4* / lifestyle & vocational skills training / Princes Trust / personal management / substance misuse 2.Inclusion : Anger management / counselling / career support / ‘special needs’ 3.Arts & drama: exhibition and performance space 4.Facility for NEETS / Connexions (like CAB for youth) *The Weald School could become the local ‘hub’ for such activities

17. Young People’s Use Now that the Weald Youth Wing is to be closed, there will be no dedicated youth facility in the village. A recent questionnaire of Weald pupils highlighted the following needs (among others): – Sport : pool / table-tennis / football / netball – Music : Band nights / disco / films / karaoke / fancy dress – IT facilities : games / Facebook / Wii / graphic design – Themed events : St.Valentine’s / Halloween / BBQ’s – Sundry : Just ‘hanging out’ / meeting mates / socialising

18. Funding Challenges The first requirement is to gain funding to enable a planning application. The stages will include: – a full appraisal of relevant socio economic and demographic and educational data – Building design and drawings to ‘Regs’ standard – Planning consent

19. Funding Streams Identified Big Lottery Fund Hidden Trust Bradbury Trust Rank Foundation Awards For All Capital Community Foundation Sussex Heritage (Gatwick Fund) People’s Millions S106 Other….. Note: This is not a fully inclusive list

20. Anticipated Challenges Funding Budget constraints Site Planning Issues

21. Any Questions?