Volunteers are working hard to transform the historic Otley Methodist Church building into Otley Common, a vibrant cultural, entrepreneurial and social space for the community to meet, work and play.
The project came about as the result of a shared concern over the continuing loss of community assets in the Otley area and the alarm about the decline of Otley Civic Centre, a building now on the National Heritage ‘at risk’ register.
Otley Common will be run by the community for the community, providing space for community groups and classes, small studios for artists and business start ups, a community café, co-working space, a dedicated youth area, large spaces for music, comedy and art, serving both private and professional functions.
After recently securing a £300,000 grant from the government’s Community Ownership Fund, the group looks to raise an additional £571,700 to purchase and renovate the building through a Community Share Offer by Sunday 1 September. The Community Share Offer, gives the community the opportunity to invest in an Otley based project, run by the community for the community. In return, investors will become members of Friends of the Wesley Otley Limited (FOTWOL), the Community Benefit Society (CBS) that has been set up to run Otley Common. All members will get to vote on decisions around how the society is run, regardless of how much they have invested. Investors will also get the option to receive interest on their investment as Otley Common becomes commercially successful.
Since 2012, over £200m has been raised in community shares across the UK, supporting over 500 co-operative and community businesses, including shops, pubs, housing projects and community hubs like Otley Common. Such share offers are becoming an increasingly popular way for communities to take ownership of key assets in their neighbourhoods. The group behind Otley Common aims to create positive change and a lasting impact for Otley and the surrounding areas with 5 core themes embedded throughout their plans :
- Arts & Heritage – providing access to high quality, affordable, and inclusive opportunities in the arts, cultural services, heritage and sports.
- Employment, Training & Education – providing access to training opportunities, so individuals can develop new skills and create lifelong learning opportunities.
- Mental Health & Wellbeing – providing opportunities to engage in meaningful and fulfilling activities, creating a sense of purpose, emotional resilience, confidence and aspirations for the future.
- Citizenship and Community – We want everyone in Otley to have a positive perception of their community and area, feeling happy and proud of where they live.
- Sustainability and Regeneration creating local economic growth, spending and investment, whilst also reducing our carbon footprint, promoting energy efficiency, and preserving and enhancing local biodiversity.
To find out more and support this venture visit https://www.otleycommon.org/
Main image: Co-working space. Desks will be available to rent in a designated co-working space for local solopreneurs, freelancers and SMEs to meet, network and collaborate. Drawing by Stead & Co, Architects, Otley.
Photography by Richard Sells, Otley Camera Club.
