Monifieth House of Memories project needs to raise £10k
CROWDFUNDING:
Organisers behind tourist attraction ask public to help them clear final hurdle
Organisers behind ambitious plans to reopen a tourist attraction in Monifieth
have one final hurdle to overcome.
Monifieth Local History Society has six weeks to raise £10,000
for a year’s running costs for its new base in the former Access Office
on the High Street. A crowdfunding page has been set up with £4,000
already pledged, but society president Margaret Copland has warned,
if the target is not reached, the project will be scrapped.
Mrs Copland explained the not-for-profit group was in a “chicken and egg”
situation regarding funding the lease for the building, the subject of a successful
community asset transfer agreement with Angus Council last year.
She said: “We have not signed the lease agreement and can’t apply for
grant funding until we do.
“We have to make sure we have sufficient funding before we commit.
“Over the 15 years we ran the House of Memories in our previous building,
we averaged £9,000 a year to keep it open and raised that through donations.
“Our annual rent will be £4,500 – but we have to secure funding of £10,000 to cover all our running costs – including insurance, heating and lighting.
“We have committed ourselves to renting the building for three years
but it would be foolish to sign the lease until we have the funding.”
The society has the backing of a number of community groups, including the community council, befrienders group and Voluntary Action Angus.
Margaret continued: “They are all keen we survive.
“Unlike our original building, the new premises has disabled access and a number of ante-rooms which can be used for a number of groups.
“We hope to set up a library research room and a reminiscing room for clients from care homes.
If we meet the £10,000 target by April 28 we will sign the lease at the start of May. “With a big community effort and the help of our volunteers, we would open on June 1st.
That would be us back in business.
“If we don’t, I would be dreadfully disappointed and would feel we had let the Monifieth community down.”
Further details on the project can be found at monifiethhistorysociety.co.uk
To pledge a donation visit Go Fund Me Monifieth House of Memories.
JANET THOMSON
jathomson@thecourienco.uk
