We aim to reinstate a vibrant, even enviable, community space in response to a community with little, but with significant needs.
Estimated Price
80000
Our Roseath community space - Princess Louise Hall and Howie Pavilion - has been sadly neglected - thus in dangerous disrepair. With 2 adjoined buildings, we aim to make both buildings safe, as well as wind and watertight, so initially enabling re-use of 1 building - The Howie. (Our area includes Clynder and Rahane).
In several independent surveys, Rosneath fared poorly. Next, Covid lockdown highlighted such deficits. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation in multiple categories, revealed Rosneath as worse than average. Rosneath also shows high levels of deprivation on the indicator of Geographic Access to Services. Re health - the nearest medical centre, several miles away, is served by locum GPs. Access to Health Assets and Hazards measures neighbourhoods' 'health' through accessibility and geographical determinants. Again Rosneath has a worse score than average for all inputs, indicating a poor health-related environment.
During lockdown, the local library was closed, nor is there a cafe, pub, or community hub. Social isolation is significant, as is transport: car access, including young people and those with no car:22.1%. With limited bus service - 1 per hour less frequently at weekends - locally provided facilities and activities, as well as meeting social and health, will reap environmental benefits & reduce the need to travel.
Our survey and liaison with other service providers reiterate the needs and aspirations of our communities.
youth facilities
mother & baby/toddler support and clinics
support for the elderly and carers
sporting facilities
community social events, private functions & visiting acts
a cafe - and a Warm Hub
classes in a range of subjects
ICT
food bank
access to MPs, MSPs & councillors
access to guidance & support on housing and social issues
mental health support
addictions support
With capital funding, we can start re-use at least one key building. We have engaged with: the NHS; Food Bank; University of Highlands and Islands; Age Concern; those who wish to run well-being/fitness programs; Live Argyll (sport & youth); Dunbritton & Acha Housing Associations; 1st Responders; Rape Crisis; local primary school &local churches.
We also have a commitment to secure state-of-the-art ICT equipment to create a digital hub. (Ref: Aitken Report:... the importance of being digitally literate to participate fully in life, work & education".
Benefits: health and well-being; community safety; employability; sustainability and energy; training & volunteering; leisure; community capacity; digital resilience & training; alleviating poverty; addressing social isolation.
With funding agreed for the 1st phase, we aim to build on this with complementary works that will see us re-open.
Appraisal of the 2nd phase with agreed steps & costs to deliver 1 workable building - figures based on Argyll and Bute Council survey.
Howie Pavilion
repairs to where 2 buildings abut - ingress & damage
repair defective render & cladding - external
seek & install sustainable heating system
install wiring for ICT hub & future development
appropriate lighting
safety devices: fire, smoke, electrics; security
external lighting
Approximate costs: £53,000
Princess Louise Hall
assess roof - survey
make good timber flooring
tackle water damage - mould and more
install new electric consumer unit; isolating switches etc
Approximate costs: £27,000
Community support is exponential, as progress is seen - interest grows. Action is vital to counter apathy & cynicism. Improved facilities are demonstrably necessary to support both the cohesion and health of communities - a reflection of the council's aim to make Argyll and Bute 'a place people choose to live, learn, work and do business.' In short - multiple benefits for all.
