Madeley is an old mining town in Shropshire which was absorbed by the construction of Telford New Town in the 60s. During this development, Madeley’s town centre was lost, and an old working men’s club, called the Anstice Memorial Hall, was one of the few community places where people could meet and had been central to the social lives of residents for years. When the Anstice was faced with closure in 2014, there was an immediate public response.
Protests were held outside the building, petitions were launched and a “Save the Anstice” Facebook page quickly gathered 900 followers. Members of the campaign established the Anstice Community Trust (ACT), approached local councillors and were eventually granted a licence to occupy the building.
Since then, the group have developed a popular events programme to raise funds for the building’s refurbishment, while local people have been volunteering to clean and paint the Anstice. Local businesses have also given support, donating time and materials to refurbish the kitchen, paint the entrance and clean curtains and carpets either free of charge or at a discounted rate.
For two years, ACT have been holding volunteer-led fundraising events in the Anstice Ballroom. Their programme has evolved in response to suggestions from volunteers and local people, and caters for a range of ages and tastes. Events like the monthly craft fair have become very popular, with stalls booked out months in advance, and hundreds of visitors attending every fair.
The commitment of the Community Trust and the support of the local community convinced Madeley Town Council to invest £1.1m into the modernisation of the building before leasing it back to ACT. This much-needed investment will pay for fitting out the ground floor, re-decorating the exterior, moving Madeley library into the building, developing a community café and setting up two commercial spaces to generate extra income.
Power to Change’s grant will complement the Council’s investment, with a £174,750 grant from our Community Business Fund to fund a lift and toilet for disabled visitors to make the Anstice more accessible and inclusive. It will also go towards a full-time building and events manager so the hub can be open 7 days a week. The ballroom will also be redecorated so ACT can continue to charge premium prices for commercial events, while community events are charged at a discounted rate. And the fire exits will be improved so they can legally have more people in it. This will significantly increase the Anstice’s income and ensure it is preserved as a community space in Madeley for years to come.
Community engagement and membership
ACT membership is open to all, on completion of a short form. Membership fees are £10 per person per year. Members are encouraged to volunteer at events, serving refreshments, stewarding the door etc. They also call in to the weekly drop in sessions and help with cleaning, decorating and minor repairs to the building as well as socialising and meeting other volunteers.
Members and volunteers are encouraged to join the working groups and have a direct say in the running and development of the project. The ‘Events’ working group organises social and community activity in the Ballroom and many suggestions from members have been taken forward such as offering Bingo Sessions and a regular Craft Fair. The ‘Funding’ group deals with wider fundraising and oversees the Finances. All members are invited to attend the AGM and can put themselves forward as a Trustee. The Anstice’s Trustees are all members of the local community and engage with residents every day in different ways. For example, they run an active Facebook page with over 1400 members and hold weekly drop in sessions to encourage people to volunteer, socialise, raise funds and take an active role in the Anstice. The Trust have also carried out formal consultations, community surveys, open days for young people and discussions with Local Councillors.
