The Gower Heritage & Enterprise Group is pleased to announce that it has been successful in achieving charitable status and is now registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation to be known as Gower Heritage & Enterprise Foundation. This is another exciting milestone in our journey and means we are recognised as existing for public benefit and can formally represent and help meet the needs of the community. It gives the public assurance that we are being monitored and advised by the Charity Commission.
Gower Heritage & Enterprise Foundation Registered Charity Number 1167678
The group would like to acknowledge all the members of the community and other organisations that have supported them in their journey so far. This includes the original Save the Gower campaigners, local residents, Telford & Wrekin Council, the St Georges & Priorslee Parish Council, St Georges Primary School, ASDA and other local businesses. In particular the group would like to acknowledge the support of Citizen Engagement CIC which has supported the group to carry out community consultation and develop ideas for the building, obtain Heritage Start up Grant, present a business plan and achieve charitable status.
Over the last couple of years there have been many milestones around The Gower Heritage and Enterprise group, the Save the Gower campaigners prevented the building being demolished and achieved Grade 2 listed status for the building, ensuring the protection of this iconic local landmark for future generations. Another major milestone was the formation of The Gower Heritage and Enterprise Group which became constituted in April 2014 with the aim of bringing the site back into use for the whole community of Telford. For this fantastic achievement we would like to thank all the volunteers and local residents for their support.
Since then due to the championing by local councillors backed by community opinion and local residents, Telford and Wrekin council withdrew the planning permission on the site and announced a £650k fund for the regeneration of St. Georges, with the majority of this being earmarked for the redevelopment of The Gower building.
In December 2015 the group were awarded a Heritage Lottery Start Up Grant, this has helped begin the early stages of planning activities and put in place the accountability arrangements and business plan that will help towards the future success of the project. We have explored ways to manage and sustain our heritage in the future, research how local people want their heritage to be used and train group members in relevant skills needed for the development of the project.
The next steps will not be quick – we want to let the community know that a renovation project of this magnitude will take some time to carry out. Our vision is to provide a quality building which is a destination in its own right- we want the people of St Georges and Telford to be proud of it and for it to last for future generations. We are working in an informal partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council and with the Parish Council to achieve this. The partnership is known as the Gower Forum and is chaired by Councillor Lee Carter.
In the meantime please come and get involved – we have several projects running on site and in the community including a heritage club, events group, play park group, sensory garden group and community garden group as well as a mosaic project with the local primary school. Community enthusiasts are usually on site on a Thursday morning if you want to come and look round or help out for half an hour or whatever time you can give. Look out for the sign outside which lets you know when they are there. We are holding a gardening day on Sunday the 17th of July from 10.30 am onwards – bring a plant, tools, your family and friends and a picnic if you have them – if not just bring yourself.
Contact numbers: 07450071439 or 07860781098 or 07985398600
Also to keep up to date “like” our official facebook page here and follow us on twitter here
Check us out on our website at thegowertelford.org.uk
Yours faithfully,
Gower Heritage & Enterprise management team.
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