Case Studies

In this section you will find a variety of case studies which will help you to find out more on the process, delivery and lessons learnt when taking on a community asset or service.

Parks and Playing Fields, Llanelli Rural Council and Llanelli Town Council

In November 2016, Llanelli Town Council approached Llanelli Rural Council about the possibility of it providing grounds maintenance services to the Town Council in support of several parks to be transferred from Carmarthenshire County Council. The Rural Council agreed to help and here’s their story.

Galeri Caernarfon

Galeri Creative Enterprise, a £7.5m Theatre and art space development was officially opened in April 2005 and has been the largest and most ambitious of the trust’s project so far. The opening of Galeri marked a significant development for the arts and creative industries in North Wales.

Cardigan Swimming Pool

Cardigan Swimming Pool is more than just a pool and over the past four decades has become a hub of community life. Run by a Charitable Trust, the pool is used by a wide range of local residents of all ages, across a wide geographical area in West Wales.

Ebbw Vale Institute

Ebbw Vale Institute is the oldest Institute in Wales. It is a Grade II listed building and was built in 1849. It was in danger of being lost due to the need for extensive repair and refurbishment. In 2007, ProMo Cymru approached the Council to take on the major task of saving and restoring the historic Institute Building and turning into a sustainable cultural centre of community activity and learning.

Y Fron

In 2014 following a village meeting and vote it was decided that the Canolfan Y Fron Committee would proceed with their Community Plan. They put together a business plan for retaining a school building and sports field for community use with the school building as a Village Community Centre. They felt they needed an income generating activity to build up financial reserves for capital expenditure and act as a financial safety net.

Porthcawl Maritime Centre

Porthcawl Maritime Centre is an all-weather, year-round haven for residents and visitors bringing educational, cultural, water sports, business, employment and health and wellbeing benefits to the South Wales Coast.

The idea for a year-round attraction grew out of a need to build a new base for the Porthcawl Sea Cadets, which still occupy a building constructed in 1946 as well as a headquarters and centre of excellence for the Welsh Surfing Federation.

Siop Griffiths

In 2011 the local community established ‘Dyffryn Nantlle 20/20’, a community enterprise to help deliver youth activities and training. They wanted to purchase and renovate Siop Griffiths, an iconic building and former hardware shop in Penygroes which had been empty for more than five years. They wanted to renovate the building to include a café, shop, B&B facilities and an outdoor activities business. The project would expand a digital activities project that had been running in the area over a number of years and provide much needed training and employment opportunities for local young people.

Gamblesby Village Hall, Cumbria

The example of Gamblesby Village Hall in Cumbria illustrates how community ownership of a key local building can contribute significantly to restoring the morale of a declining neighbourhood. 

Burton Street Project, Sheffield

In 1994 local people set out to turn a disused Victorian school into community buildings, from which they would generate income by renting out space at affordable prices to local groups. The centre now provides a home for 100 groups and over 2,000 people use the centre each week.

Heywood MAGIC, Rochdale

In 2002 Heywood Market Traders Committee in Rochdale took over the management of their market, which was under the threat of closure by the local council, and successfully re-established it as a thriving base for community activity and training that is now having a positive impact well beyond the confines of the market place. 

Aston-Mansfield, Newham

The ownership of assets has been crucial to Aston-Mansfield’s development and growth into a significant community anchor organisation for the people of East London.