How professional support has helped expand community services

Name of Organisation
Kingsway Community Centre

Sector
Childcare

Location
Forest Town, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

Business Partners
Koyander Associates (architects); DTZ Debenham Tie Leung (chartered surveyors); Bunyan Meyer (structural engineers); Eric Hallam (accountant)

Type of business support
Since Kingsway started operating in 1997 the project has continually grown in terms of benefits and opportunities provided to Forest Town in Mansfield. It has established itself as an invaluable part of the community both through the sheer number of people that come through the doors and the quality and nature of services provided.

Recent developments have included all-day childcare through the 'Kidzone' project and the befriending service offered to the most vulnerable and isolated members of the community.

The objectives of the Centre are to contribute to the economic regeneration of the area. This involves improving community safety, providing opportunities for life-long learning, offering advice and guidance services and providing a focal point for social and recreational activities.

Following some initial legal advice, which helped the group develop a facilities hire agreement and business planning advice to support the sustainability of the Centre, Kingsway went on to approach ProHelp for additional professional support.

Costs and Resources involved

Kingsway wanted to explore how to make the upper floor of their Centre wheelchair accessible by installing a lift. Through their local ProHelp group they were put in touch with architects, Koyander Associates, structural engineers Bunyan Meyer and Nottingham-based chartered surveyors DTZ Debenham Tie Leung who advised them and drafted plans which will accompany a funding bid for the lift installation.

Benefits of involvement
Alistair Windeatt, Director at Kingsway comments: "The help provided has underpinned a lot of the development of the Centre. All the professionals we have dealt with through ProHelp have been extremely helpful and approachable".

"We are delighted that a facility like ProHelp is available. This is the only way that voluntary groups such as ours can access these kinds of services. Ordinarily, we wouldn't have the funds to be able to pay for professional help".

How was the link established?
The Kingsway Community Centre contacted their local ProHelp group who put them in touch with local professional firms who were able to help, they received support from ProHelp groups in Nottingham and North Notts/Derby.