Many of you will know that in September last year we set a timetable to close as we felt we had exhausted all options available to execute our hub strategy. We went live with our announcement and were surprised at how quickly it was picked up on locally. We were bowled over by the number of people who recognised our rising stature and were supportive of our position and strategy. Our steady growth, the lovely team, the popup café, clearer identity and more events, we assume, all helped us far more than we had imagined.
We delivered 5000 leaflets in the Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction ward and a bit in Southwark and got 450 who signed our petition which we shared with Lambeth. Additionally, many people followed our suggestion and wrote to our local councillors and MP which was particularly effective and appreciated.
We knew we would not go without a fight, but we were not optimistic of the outcome. However, the campaign got recognised in Lambeth pretty quickly and consequently relations have improved. The timetable was respected and Lambeth reached out to indicate it was willing to do a deal by the end of the year. This deal materially recognised what was important to the Hub strategy, much closer to the original ambition. On our part we accepted conditions asked of us which we felt were entirely reasonable to provide accountability, as well as a shorter lease term which was important to them.
We’re delighted to announce that Lambeth have offered us a 21-month lease to enable us to demonstrate we can meaningfully start to execute the strategy we have presented to them.
Without a doubt the community and partner support were essential for Lambeth to recognise the good will we have earned over the years, and it is that which enabled this deal to happen! So, a massive thank you from the trustees and team.
There is one silver lining; it has demonstrated that our simple and lovely community business, which has evolved and grown based on a positive agenda, making the best of the resources it has, has been recognised by the community for what it is trying to do and has the support to keep learning, investing and developing.
We have many development plans for the coming months. And we’re excited to execute and share them with you over the next year. We’re confident that we can make the hub even more financially stable, welcoming, with more events and complement the library and gym as much as possible. There will be bumps on the road for sure, but we endeavour to try our best for the building, library and the community as well as have fun at the same time!
And if anyone wants to get involved and support us, we’re in need of many practical people! Get in touch if you have practical skills to bear and enjoy a project! Particularly any designers and DIYers out there.
And if you’re wondering about the lock graphic above… it’s a recently refurbished lock from the Carnegie from 1906, which had long ago stopped working and been painted over, which we have put into action for one of our rooms… and symbolises that we have finally been given the keys to the building!