Sponsored by MoorEnd Development Trust, spACE @ Hare Hill House is turning a once proud and unique local heritage asset into a creative community hub available to all the residents of the local Littleborough area.
As well as providing a community arts space for concerts, theatrical events and exhibitions, Hare Hill House will also play host to a community café – providing a space for local residents to socialise and interact. Other uses for the building include being used as an events space, possible wedding venue and focal point for community activities and celebrations.
It will keep the heritage of the building and local area alive by providing a permanent record and celebration of the House, the Newall family who build it and its many incarnations and uses throughout history. The building will also become a local enterprise centre, providing office space for local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
In renovating the building, the project has been reliant on volunteer labour but, with support from our Trade Up programme, it is moving towards generating enough income to pay for staff. For the team behind the project, sourcing labour and building materials locally is important.
With support from the Trade Up programme, spACE has been able to solve business problems through Action Learning and peer group training from the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE). It has also been able to start thinking about how it can effectively deliver social impact and formulate outcomes and goals to apply for further funding.
A new network has also been opened to spACE for them to gain knowledge, guidance and support. “For me, the connections SSE have are what brings real benefit,” continues Nick. “They’re often connections with people that have been through their programmes and can see the benefit. I hope that one day Hare Hill House will become a place that SSE students visit because we’ve benefitted, and I’d want to give something back.”