Purpose

Accept uplift of £56,000 from The
National Lottery Heritage Fund to run a heritage training programme
and repair of the Town Pound in Swaffham as part of the Swaffham
– A Historic Market Town Project.

Decision

To accept an uplift in funding
offered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the Town
Pound Heritage training and repair project.

Reasons for the decision

Summary
The project will repair a listed building in a
Conservation Area, stop its deterioration and prevent it from being
at risk. It will also provide heritage work experience for up to 20
young people at risk of unemployment. The project is a
collaboration between the High Street regeneration project –
Swaffham – A Historic Market Town, Volunteer It Yourself
(VIY) – who challenge young people to learn trade and
employability skills by helping to fix local community spaces and
BOOST – who support 16 -30-year-olds across West Norfolk by
providing skills and improved job opportunities. The Swaffham Town
Pound is a key part of Swaffham’s heritage as a Market Town
and bringing it back into use fits into the overall High Street
regeneration programme.
 
Aims
1 – The main aim of this project is to
connect young people with the historic environment. The 20 young
people working on the project will spend 25 hours working on the
project and as part of this gain an insight and understanding of
local heritage. These will be hard to reach young people who are
not the general audience for heritage. The local museum will
support in educating the volunteers about the Town Pound and its
importance. Once repaired, interpretation for the Town Pound will
be added and also promoted through the
Town Council, heritage website, local newsletter and project blog
so that more local people are aware of it as a heritage asset.
 
2- By having young people repair a heritage
site in their own community we are looking to instil pride and give
ownership to local people. By moving young people closer to
employment, we are aiming to improve local prosperity, the project
also aims to bring more heritage locations into use near the High
St boosting footfall and the local economy.
 
3 – The project will stop the Town Pound
being at risk. It will be repaired using traditional techniques and
materials. The inappropriate repairs will be reversed, and it will
be in a good condition with a maintenance plan in place. The site
will once again be accessible with signage and interpretation
allowing the public to understand its importance.
 
Target Outputs
·        
20 local young people participating as learners - all 16 years+ Not
in Education Employment or Training and/or economically
inactive.
·        
75% of the learners gaining a City and Guilds, an introductory
Award in Employable Skills (5546-01) Accreditation no is 601/3625X.
The unit ref number is 347 - Introducing Brickwork Skills.
·        
50% also gaining a City and Guilds, Health and Safety Unit, ref 341
- Introduction to Site Health and Safety.
·        
75% reporting improved broader employability/interpersonal
skills.
·        
90% reporting raised job/career aspirations.
·        
90% feeling more confident about getting a job in the future.
·        
90% feeling more aware of employers' expectations.
·        
90% feeling more aware of opportunities in building/construction
and heritage preservation.
·        
80% reporting an improved feeling of physical health, happiness
and   wellbeing through
volunteering.
 
In addition to the £56,000 from the
Heritage Fund, the project will also bring in additional match
funding from BOOST (£2500) and Volunteer It Yourself
(£10,000).
The project also commits to use £3150 of
the allocated Conservation Architect funds from the current project
but no additional Breckland funds are needed.
 
Funding Table:
 

Alternative options considered

None.