The Heritage Centre will change the character of the Stourbridge canal and river stour; bringing vibrancy and interest to local residents and visitors to the area. The Heritage Centre will provide a multifunctional social space for community groups, art exhibitions, craft demonstrations and workshops and performances, along with photographic information on the heritage of the foundry and canal infrastructure and the wildlife species found on brownfield sites. This significant community space will provide recreational space and an educational facility in conjunction with the Canal and River Trust and the Wildlife Trust. The funding will be used to pay for an architect and his team to get the project ready to build - we have already scoped this out with several funders who would love to fund the capital to turn the architect vision of the Visitors Centre into a reality. You can see from our track record we are very successful at doing this and grant funders love to support us.

What we'll deliver:

• Exhibition and performance space for community use.
• Regular events and activities for a wide age range and diverse demographic.
• Educational opportunities for local schools and visitors.

Why it's a great idea:

Creating the Heritage Centre on the boundary wall of Riverside House will enhance the canal side for the narrowboat community, and local residents of Stourbridge. The Centre will provide opportunities for minority groups to access wildlife in an urban area and to explore the natural surroundings in an informative way. Photographic boards will showcase the history of the site and the significance of it in relation to the historic foundry and canal infrastructure. An exhibition space will provide opportunities for local crafts people to showcase and sell their work, generating revenue to support the creative sector.

Steps to get it done:

• Architect drawings
• Environmental survey
• Planning application

It is notoriously difficult to get funding for pre building planning/architects etc. It is costly and there are not many grant funders who provide this opportunity. We have spent a lot of time and money developing this pitch as we have been advised that this scheme could provide funding. Achieving the funding will then open the doorway to capital grant funders such as National Heritage Lottery Fund as well as provide leverage for other investment such as Social Investment Banking (who have already verbally pledged support and have funded us previously).