A community arts centre in South Bristol has been given 'lifeline' Government funding to fast-track its community ownership. Zion Bristol in Bedminster Down was at risk of being "lost forever" earlier this year until it was saved after reaching its £230,000 fundraising target to secure its future.
The Government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced allocations from the second round of the £150 million Community Ownership Fund on December 10. More than 30 pubs, clubs, theatres and other venues at risk of closure around the UK have been saved and placed in the hands of local people using a combined total of £6.67 million of the Government's levelling up funding.
Emma Moore, Outreach Co-ordinator of the centre, said: "It is brilliant, it takes the pressure off of us on the finance side of things with the cost of sales going up and expenses generally going up for an organisation like ours. This has been a real lifeline that we don't have to take a commercial mortgage on the premises and it does mean that we can be community-owned from day one, which is fantastic."
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In June this year, Zion's previous owner Jess Wright offered the sale of the building to the community, which needed to raise an ambitious £230,000 to purchase the former church on Bishopsworth Road. The funding target was secured just three days before the deadline of August 5, but now the extra money from the Government's scheme safeguards Zion's future.
The community centre applied for funding amounting to 50 per cent of the capital to speed up the process of becoming community-owned. The community shares and the grants given by Bristol Grants Organisation were 50 per cent of the asking price for the building and the Government's Community Ownership Fund has match-funded what the centre raised.
Speaking on the second round of funding, Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said: “We’re putting beloved pubs, clubs and heritage sites into the hands of local people to ensure these cherished institutions and the vital services they provide are guaranteed for future generations.
Zion Bristol is a community cafe and events space that provides a meeting point for a number of groups in the area. It's provided a vital space for the community - including a history group, memories cafe and play groups - over the past 15 years as Zion with a history that spans back 120 years. The Government funding will allow Zion to carry on as normal to provide its important community services.
Ms Moore added: "It's exciting that we get to start 2023 on such a positive footing. I'd like to thank all of the community for taking such an active part in saving the building and making sure that Zio carries on and stays in the community."
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