Mencap Cottage on Mariners Road is an important asset for the local community.  We’re launching a campaign to save the building and we need your help.

Can you please help by filling out our quick survey?  Mencap Cottage Community Questionnaire Summer 2022

We are applying to the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund to help fund some renovations to Mencap Cottage on Mariners Road.  These are the changes that we think are needed to save the building and secure its future.

To get the funding, we need to show that:
–        The building is at risk
–        The building is important to the local community
–        The local community is involved in our plans to save the building

Why is the building at risk?

Basically because we can’t afford the running costs and without some major improvements, we can’t make it work as a viable business.

• half of the building is inaccessible- we have no lift and the toilets aren’t fit for purpose.
• we need to re-configure the coffee shop space so that we can serve enough customers to make a profit (and use the rest of the building for activities)
• we don’t have enough spaces to rent
• our energy bills are crippling!

If we can’t afford to keep the building, then the trustees are legally bound to sell the site to the highest bidder.  This would most likely be a developer who would demolish the cottage and build several houses or apartments on the site.  We really don’t want this to happen! ☹

What do we want to do?

Our vision is a vibrant community centre run by our members.  These are the changes we’re hoping to make:

1. Install a lift, which would give access to the first floor, without sacrificing any of the existing rooms.
2. Install a Changing Place facility (fully accessible toilet, bed, shower, hoist) in place of the current ladies toilets.
3. Fully refurbish the existing gents toilets and utility, creating spacious, dignity-affirming, gender-neutral toilets.
4. Re-configure the kitchen and dining room space to allow our members to run the coffee shop, with covered outdoor seating.
5. Replace the leaking dormer and install solar panels on our large south-facing roof to help meet our energy needs
6. Renew flat-roof above main room extension to fix damp and provide an outside therapy space for the wellbeing room.
7. Install 3-phase electricity supply required for the lift, changing place facility and coffee shop. Install EV charging points.  Plus rewiring throughout the building to bring it up to safe, modern standards.
8. Improve all the entrances – levelling the thresholds to improve natural accessibility (and remove ugly ramps). Installing wide push button doors.

These are the benefits we want to deliver for everyone:

• increase feelings of pride in, and improve perceptions of, the local area as a place to live
• improve social trust, cohesion and sense of belonging
• increase local participation in community life, arts, culture or sport
• improve local economic outcomes – including creating jobs, volunteering opportunities and improving employability and skills levels in the local community
• improve social and wellbeing outcomes – including having a positive impact on physical and/or mental health of local people and reducing loneliness and social isolation