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The Benefits
[ What's in it for me? ]
In addition to the good things that happen in Abergavenny....
Our town will benefit from ...
* A vibrant, living centre that captures and encourages positive activities that benefit people and contribute to a thriving, prosperous social economy
* A communal hub where people are permitted & encouraged to give
* A safe-place that shares food, companionship, comfort and warmth
* A place where people develop and foster a sense of belonging and well-being
* A place where families and children learn & benefit from positive role models and new opportunities that come along as the result of new relationships with real people
* Economic regeneration of the Grofield ward
* A non-judgemental space where people of every age, faith, creed, gender, cultural and political outlook choose to come together to participate in local pursuits ~ assisting civil renewal at our grassroots ~
* Leadership to respond positively to change
We will all benefit from ...
- community-based childcare; purposeful youth & holiday programmes
- office space for fledgling enterprise, expanding businesses and home-workers
- workshop space for the arts, music and crafts
- different spaces that bring young & old together to socialise; to share traditions and promote vital inter-dependant relationships for the future
- teaching & learning space for passing on practical skills
- new focus on projects that genuinely address local issues
- local goods, local services and local jobs
- support for families and pastoral support for schools
- practical & informal learning opportunities for families, children and young people
- a space where people 'outside the mainstream' make a valuable contribution to our community within the mainstream environment
- an organisation that places a high value on the expert skills of retired and older people [and anyone whose circumstances prevent them from participating in paid work]
- a network of co-operatives to support local and sustainable living. ie.food, goods and services
- Community-based social marketing tool (addressing climate change through small and sustainable actions ~ on a growing scale)
The Centre would provide a much-needed focal point for those of us who live in Abergavenny who just want to 'give something back' through active and voluntary participation and service.
A high standard of expertise and willingness exists locally and waits to be gathered - and put back - to meet our changing social needs. This will happen by giving people the right tools and the right organisation structure to take voluntary effort into our schools and nurseries; our hospitals; our streets; our homes; gardens; allotments and farms.
We have something valuable to give which money doesn't buy, and which isn't easily replicated or replaced by public services being dressed as social enterprise.
The 'stickiness' of communities we encourage and enable is automin addition to the business of churches and schools; governments and politics.
Why is there such an emphasis on community and voluntary action all around us, now?
Times are changing rapidly...
Abergavenny is facing new social, political, economic & climate-related challenges that will change the way that we all currently live.
Grassroots organisations - like ACC Ltd - are known to be best-placed to respond to local issues and they give us the best chance to influence and respond to changes too.
- Our ageing population makes it imperative to focus on our future health & social-care needs.
- The change-down from an oil-rich world economy points to local production and distribution of food & services in the future.
At the heart of all social care are human relationships but in these modern times of social mobility, geographic dislocation and changing family structures, vital connections ~ and all that which goes without saying ~ have been severely compromised. As a result of social fragmentation people are more vulnerable now than ever before in modern history.
WE KNOW ...
- Government spending has dried-up. And things will get much worse.
- Pensions and savings are a thing of the past. The economic gap is widening.
- Existing provision can't always meet the need for consistent & compassionate care
- Despit attempts, many of us just fall through widening social, cultural, technological & economic gaps. The provider doesn't seem to know how to meet us where needs exist.
Our plan for the future depends on 'civil society' having its unique space in which to grow and fill existing and emerging gaps.
But is Abergavenny ready, willing or able?
What and who stands in the way?
These questions are being answered, in turn, through this three-year-long local campaign to bring a community centre to the heart of Abergavenny.
A different business approach...
Things have moved on so put aside the outdated image of a one space community centre or village hall. The old school provides us with multi-functional and multi-purpose space ...and we can use every inch.
The proposed centre will be an anchor in the community. It will be run efficiently as a community business, and like any other business we'll offer services in response to what people actually need and what we know will get used. We will charge for some services but the difference is that profit will be used to provide benefits for local people and not for personal gain.