WCA Have Signed the Contract!

The WiNSpace Team are really pleased to announce that we have signed a contract with Rigg Construction.  This is to build the long awaited new community centre.  We are now discussing the likely construction start date but if all goes well, we should be open for business in September 2025!

We are really looking forward to working with Rigg who have been selected during a rigorous selection process, which started in March this year, with 4 companies tendering quotes from which Rigg was selected.

To allow us to sign a contract everyone has worked really hard to hit our funding target, which has secured the amount we needed to afford the building, with Rigg Construction doing their part on bottom line price.

We had to make tough choices and have had to leave items out, for the moment but what you see in the picture above is what you are going to get.

Shortly more details on start dates will be available and we will be communicating to Users and Locals on what is going to happen during the build process but we will remain fully open for business during the build! It’s going to be such a great place for the community to own and use, new groups are asking about using spaces – so the excitement start here.

Our you able to Help WiNSpace

Our open letter to Businesses and Individuals

Dear Friend of the Winscombe Community Centre,
We are really excited that, after 10 years in the planning, we are now about to start constructing our new community building in the Autumn. To fund this, the WiNSpace team have raised £1,700,000, much of which has been sourced from outside the Parish, such as National Grants and Government funds. Now through a rigorous tender process we have a selected preferred provider, who is working with us to meet our Autumn start date with a planned opening date of September 2025.
Through surveys we have shown that there is widespread community support and needs, with over 80% in favour from a Parish Council led survey. With the £1.7M we know we can build a building but our target is to create a fully functioning community centre that not only we will be proud of but will draw many people into Winscombe from the surrounding area. Our plans contain 3 bookable spaces including one with a capacity of 130. Also office spaces and a large (80m2) foyer to allow the local community to meet in, have exhibitions in or to be just used as a circulation space before events. We have also plans to improve the open space with additional tree planting and seating areas.
This letter is to ask you directly, as a local business or Individual, to help us meet our target of creating a Community Centre at the heart of the Village by raising the last £300K. Below we have developed a doner matrix which shows how you can be recognised with a donation. We fully understand that for many individuals and businesses times are always tough but every pound counts. So your help at this time will really be appreciated not just by us but by the whole community. This opportunity to make a big difference for the Parish only comes around very rarely therefore any financial help at this time will be remembered and make a difference for the generations to come.
If you would like to discuss a donation with the WiNSpace Project team please send them an email to support@winspace.org.uk. If you want to know more have a look at our website winspace.org.uk
Your Sincerely
The WCA Trustees and WiNSPace Committee

WiNSpace – Contractor Selected

The WiNSpace team our please to announce they have selected a construction company to construct the New Building in the place of the Youth Club and Art Shed. We are now engaging with them with the aim to start the construction phase in late September. That’s in around 3 months time! Assuming all goes well with the build and next winter is not too bad, we are planning that the Village Show 2025 will contain the opening of the new centre.

Don’t forget that the Winscombe Community Centre will be open for business as normal throughout the build which includes use of the 3 rooms in the main building plus the Annexe. Once we know the site requirements for the construction, we will let everyone know what limitations there will be on Car Parking. Below give a idea of our timeline leading up to the grand opening

WiNSpace Launch Donation Push

With the likelihood of starting construction of the New Building in the Autumn, the WiNSpace team have launch their final donation push. The WiNSpace team have raised £1,700,000, much of which has been sourced from outside the Parish, such as National Grants and Government funds and they are looking for that last £300,000. We know that we can build a building for £1.7M but we must not stop there as we need to build a community centre. What this final £300,000 gives the building is proper kitchens, better inclusivity, solar panels, improved flooring (hopefully sprung), AV and Wi-Fi systems, good quality doors and windows, more storage and much much more.

We now have a fund thermometer outside the main building, what can you do to make us meet the top and burst through our Target of £2,000,000. Please help us

New Membership Scheme

As the Winscombe Community Association has moved to what is called an ‘Incorporated Charity’ we now have a new Constitution. This requires the WCA to have members. Therefore WCA have just launched a new membership scheme which is completely free. Why not join the WCA as a member and be first to hear what is going on especially with the New Building about to start construction.

Just Click the button to go to the WCA the membership page

WiNSpace wins support from the National Lottery

Close on the heels of our Community Ownership Fund Grant of £300,000 we have just heard that we have obtained £200,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund. This is another massive step for the project. We have also been informed that we will be receiving a further £60,000 in grants from providers once the digging starts.
With 89% of funds identified (see below), it’s to going happen very soon, although there’s still lots to do and more funds to find.

Our thanks goes to the National Lottery Community Fund and all those who have played the lottery

Our Current Funding Status – Apr 24

WiNSpace gone out to Tender

The design team, led by our Architects B2, have now completed all the design details.  This includes the layouts, the building structure, the heating & ventilation system, the electrical design and supply requirements. They are aiming to create a really sustainable building which not only will provide fantastic spaces but a place which gives the community a focal point to meet.  This has all been put together as a single package so that:

WiNSpace is now out for Tender!

This is a major milestone which means we are on schedule to start the construction phase later this year. We are all working hard to ensure we stay on track, with lots to do; raising more funds, completing the legal requirements for Grants and selling the Headmasters’ house. From our recent User meeting, we have created a FAQ page on our website. Why not go to winspace.org.uk to find out more, look for:

New Images of WiNSpace have arrived

For our User Information Evening our Architects have created some new 3D images of how the building will look once built these can be seen below and throughout our website. We’re now very close to sending out all the drawing to construction companies to allow them to tender for the construction.

View From Millennium Green

Special User Information Meeting 7th March

WiNSpace and the WCA trustees are holding an information evening at the Community Centre on Thursday 7th March, for an update on developments for our long-awaited new Community Centre. We are excited to share our progress so far, and to explain details of the project going forward, as the start of the build is only 6 months away.

At this meeting we will be able to show how the new community centre will look, and give our timeline for the start of the projected build. We have plans of the building, and proposals for the inside layout which we want to share. We can answer questions, and welcome suggestions as to how it will benefit the community. Your opinion really does count!

We also want to share our plans for the transition phase, during the construction, and what the possible impacts on users could be.

We want to involve as many users and future users of the site, to help drive this project forward as smoothly as possible. This whole project has been run by volunteers who want to serve the community, and to create a new centre for you and future generations in the village.

The evening will start at 6.30pm with a formal presentation at around 7.00pm. There will be plenty of time after this for you to talk to members of WiNSace to ask questions and look at the plans. Refreshments will be available.

WiNSpace Floor and Site Layouts are now being finalised

More details for the floor and room layouts are now being sent over from our Architects B2. It’s amazing what they are able to put into our Phase 1 building. Once completed we’ll have four different size and style rooms and spaces available for you to use, plus all the other normal community centre facilities. In the building we’ll have a

  • 130 seat space for larger functions, shows and events
  • A rear activity hall (with about the same space as our current main hall)
  • A front meeting room (50% larger than our Amesbury Room)
  • A large kitchen with an additional rear entrance and storage, plus a small one on the first floor
  • A large open foyer
  • Storage in each of the main rooms and foyer
  • Plus office spaces

We are now in the stage of creating specifications for the electrical, ventilation and heating systems. Keep coming back to the website and keep up to date with what is going on.