Synopsis Case Study Actual Example of Project successfully introduced and implemented by Gordon Owen, including all the funding; setting-up of charitable trust company; property aquisition; & service delivery.
NEWHAM YOUTH LODGE HOSTEL PROJECT:
Picture for a moment the expression of a child’s face and what might be going through their minds reading an airline magazine on holiday about other children travelling abroad on exchange trips. Imagine their thoughts when such opportunities are disappointingly not been available to them. Given the opportunity and resources that this project provides Imagine the expression of excitement and happiness on the face of a child who is told here is a chance for you to participate.
Think of the educational and cultural value helping them to understand and value others as people.
Determine need:
What is the Project?
An outer London Borough with a population of around 27,100 high-rise flats, terraced housing. But it is home to the people and families. The people live happily engaging in professions, activities and interests with a host of skills. Along side this for the young are some 200+ youth clubs & organisations that make-up the youth service in the Borough.
Trips to a variety of places in and around London, counties and even countries are organised by different youth organisations to sight see, bike, camp and so on. We visit these places but rarely do we have the time, chance or inclination to meet, talk and live in these places for educational trips.
The hostel currently provides accommodation to enable educational exchange trips to be complimented in situations where reciprocal visits are not possible because families do not have the space to accommodate visiting people from other counties and countries. It is designed and caters for groups of between 12 - 30 people, as distinct from individuals.
Work InvolvedHistorically:
Sought assistance from Local Authority Architects to produce conceptual drawing to create visual concept of what the building would look like once converted.
Negotiated Lease & Building Agreement for 15 years (with option to continue) with the Local Authority therefore have the land.
Engaged (at no cost), Architects and Quantity Surveyors to design and cost-out the building works of existing Phase I of the project
Worked with architects and QS to prepare works specifications and tenders. Liaised and work with final appointed contractors and sub-contractors to complete works.
Worked through processes to expedite Building Regulations approval and Planning Permission.
The Phase I initial official opening was so successful that no less then 50 Trusts alone, apart from another 100+ dignatories attended securing relationships for the future in terms of support and future funding. Some even offered more help at the time and subsequently helped again.
Had a scale model of the building made to exhibit for consultation with youth organisations and schools in the Borough. Also took this model to some presentation meetings with Trusts. Proved successful.
Other promotional and publicity produced to include brochures with list of contacts to arrange direct exchanges, information on hostelling and graphics/photos. Plus: translated material languages + in Braille for the blind. Initiated and designed logos to project image of the project.
Met and subsequently registered with the English/London Tourist Board and British Tourist Authority who included the project in their handbooks translated for a number of countries to generate interest and future use. This task has successfully underpinned revenue income.
Feedback from youth groups and schools were initially mixed but enough to qualify the project being forthcoming. Clearly the building would be used others uncertainties from some potential users with in-house commitments later a significant number of these came on board and participated. Visits made to each group to co-ordinate.
Secured arrangements with local London City Airport for groups and have made many visits using the airport to discuss future arrangements.
During the VE/VJ commemorations earlier this decade, worked in partnership with the International Duke of Edinburgh's Award and hosted a group of people from some 14 countries around the world and an informal dinner for some 150. Co-ordinated arrangements with the main activities in Hyde Park and arranged trips for visitors. So successful was this venture that an invitation from the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Edward to attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace was received and attended.
Thousands of people, representing youth groups from all over Europe, Asia, Africa, Scandinavia, US, Canada, Australia and latterly the former Eastern block now visited the Borough putting them and the Organisation clearly on the map moreover, think of the children & young people who benefited as a result from the Borough!
Funding:
Feasibility Study [So as to be official recognised and accredited] Grant-aided by CAF.
Made shopping list of items required within the building to furbish, equip and furnish hostel. Sent this list to an initial host of some 500 manufacturing companies with information about the project, a brochure and covering appeal letter.
Prepared and submitted grant-aid applications to the Local Authority; former Department of the Environment(Urban Aid); and a variety of Trusts researched for initial funding required of £250k. Applications were successful and total monies needed raised. Building also took on needs for disabled and separate funding secured to provide for this, e.g. wider doors; disabled toilets & showers; ramp; easier access to pay-phone etc.
Before the decision of this was known a quarter of the manufacturing companies written to had positively responded pledging a variety of furnishings and goods for the buildings, including carpet tiles, bunk beds, office equipment, kitchen equipment etc.
Successfully secured sponsorship from the British Council to personally visit the Boroughs twin-town in Germany to carry out study and to promote the project. This included producing a brochure translated in German to distribute. Subsequent to approval, received invitation to be a civic guest of the town by the Oberburgermeister (Lord Mayor). In the early stages we spent fruitful week visiting hostels and youth groups in and around town.
Secured a scholarship through the Churchill Foundation to extend study to the US and visited a variety of hostels operated and again promoted Project. Conceived idea of aesthetically improving the external of the building by introducing figurative murals on the external walls. Engaged an artist to produce concept ideas based on the history of the Borough. Later secured monies and paints/materials to bring this to reality and some 7 No. 12ft high murals painted based on different historical elements of the Borough introducing a new element in terms of companies/organisations who would otherwise not have become involved and who were interested plus excellent publicity! This included dealing with all the processes for further Planning Permission with the Local Authority. Secured revenue funding from the former LDDC for salary to employ first member of staff, e.g. Administrative Secretary to facilitate the Project. Prepared job advert and job description/ specification + contract for this post.
The Project has provided a real need for almost two decades. Now reached a cross-road with entire site under a new development with the intention of demolishing school and hostel and build purpose built accommodation exciting future ahead.
The proposed new purpose built hostel for international youth exchanges will cost a quarter of a million pounds. The research in support of this has been supplied.
Equipping & furnishing was not be such a costly task with existing resources from the current building being moved into the new complex when complete. The upgrading and replacing old items was achived so as to suitable compliment the needs of the new building.
The work created by the Project has moved on with the site on which the Youth Lodge Hostel was based being redeveloped and a purpose built location being established as a consequence of its success changing to meet the needs of the youth of today!
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NYT Brochure of Work & Activities [In Word .doc Format]:
Actual Example of Project successfully introduced and implemented by Gordon Owen, including all the funding; setting-up of charitable trust company; property aquisition; & service delivery.
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