The idea
Our application for planning permission is being considered. In the unlikely event that this is not secured, no money will be taken from backers.
Our volunteer-run community café is no longer fit for purpose. We are crowdfunding the money we need to demolish and rebuild a much larger multi-use space. This will provide a valuable indoor facility & play a central role in our ability to connect with & work alongside our community, to host events, meetings & workshops throughout the year.
Our cafe will be a valuable social hub to build a broader base of community support for the wider project. Alongside the cafe expansion, we plan to refurbish a portion of the barns to create 3 workshop spaces for rent by local enterprise. The workshops will also be used to run classes & workshops – giving creative professionals an affordable space, an opportunity to learn new skills, develop their business & to benefit our local community.
What we'll deliver
- An upgraded and enlarged community cafe
- Buy & install the catering equipment we need
- Three multi-use workshop spaces for local enterprise
Why it's a great idea
The Farm sits within the major Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration. The development has been in the pipeline for many years but has yet to break ground. Years of delays have caused widespread regeneration blight & there has been little to no investment in local infrastructure or community facilities. Our project currently provides a much-needed positive focal point for our community & will continue to so during and after the regeneration. Our community engagement to date shows a high demand for informal meeting places & affordable shared workshops, workspaces & offices. Our volunteer-run cafe has successfully filled some of this demand but we need a bigger space & improved facilities to make a bigger positive impact. A growing & increasingly diverse local community is eager to access such a space - where they can meet & connect, share stories, build relationships, learn new skills & create the community fabric that will build long term resilience in a time of great local change.
Steps to get it done
- Ongoing: community engagement
- Autumn 2018: Planning permission granted
- Winter 2018: Existing cafe space demolished and site cleared
- Spring 2019: Cafe workspace built
- Spring 2018: Workshops stripped and cleaned
- Spring 2019: Workshops fitted out
- Summer 2019: Workshops rented
- Summer 2019: Cafe opened
We plan to give people the chance to get involved in the construction process as much as possible, providing opportunities to learn new skills & to develop a sense of collective pride.
