We are pleased to confirm that the Henry Jenkins Community Co-op (HJCC) has recently secured bursary funding to put together a bid to buy and refurbish the Henry Jenkins as a Community Hub.
The Plunkett Foundation, which represents a network of more than 500 community co-operatives across the UK, has approved initial funding of £2,500 under the Government-backed More than a Pub Business Support Programme.. This will pay for advice and support from experts with experience of setting up successful community enterprises. An independent Business Assessment has been commissioned and in the next few weeks a peer-to-peer study tour is being organised of successful co-operative pubs in North Yorkshire and Lancashire.
To qualify for funding evidence was provided of growing support in and around Kirkby Malzeard for a community buyout. Evidence was also submitted on the Business Case for regenerating the Henry Jenkins – taking into account existing services available in and around the village.
The HJCC, officially recognised as a prospective bidder by Harrogate Borough Council, is now eligible to apply for grants and loans of up to £100,000 under the £3.63m More than a Pub programme. The intention is to use the model followed by numerous other successful community enterprises, with capital raised primarily through the issue of community shares.
We are proposing the phased restoration and refurbishment of the Henry Jenkins as a Community Hub, built around a bar and a combined family bistro/ Italian-style coffee shop with b&b rooms upstairs. The Hub should have a strong community and social purpose and we plan additional services to benefit those who are socially isolated or excluded. For example, to appeal to elderly residents we are proposing a micro library, IT hub and book exchange and a comfortable waiting area for the Post Office van. Another suggestion is provision of a separate space away from the bar for parents with young children. At a later stage there may be options for other services of community benefit. Popular ideas so far include and artisan bakery, a micro brewery, a sub post office, a retail outlet for local crafts people and a bunkhouse for walkers, cyclists and mountains bikers.
However, we are committed to engaging widely with the local community – and before any of these options are decided on we will be carrying out extensive consultation to find out what people actually want.
Following a long campaign to save the pub from demolition – including more than 90 letters of objection – the Henry Jenkins was listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) in July. This means it has special status – and as an ACV it cannot be sold as anything other than as a public house. Plans by the current owner to demolish the pub and redevelop the site for housing were unanimously rejected by Harrogate Borough Council’s Planning Committee in February.