by Trevor Dale
Now the waiting begins, for the decision on the National Lottery Heritage funding.
However, the team cannot sit back with their feet up.
The Heritage Fund requires a financial contribution from Cranleigh Heritage Trust as well.
The logic is that they want to focus their efforts on projects that have plenty of support. We get the feeling they’ve been caught out in the past. Of course, they and we have responsibilities to many areas including those who buy lottery tickets. Please keep it up!
We’ve had significant contributions from Your Fund Surrey (Surrey County Council) as well as earlier from Cranleigh Parish Council, Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce, Surrey Historic Buildings Trust and others for this phase. You’ll remember we had £20,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund to get us through the Feasibility Stage to the full grant application.
We need to raise another £20,000 and the newly launched 1000 Club with the 1170 charity and Cranleigh Arts Centre will help. That alone won’t come close though in the timescale.
It is fascinating just how many funding bodies there are. They all have specific interests, and the trick is to find the relevant ones. Currently we are being helped by Voluntary Action South West Surrey who have granted us access to software that can help find that focus.
So, whilst we don’t wish to grab cash from other local good causes, if you do have anything spare, please don’t be shy!
By the way the voluntary time contributed by the Trustees and supporters all count on an equivalent hourly rate. So far that amounts to over £50,000.
Where does all the money go? Not on wine and cheese parties I can assure you. The lottery requires us to hire professionals that they vet and approve. We have mentioned the project managers and verifiers before, along with our heritage interpretation specialist who is working their magic for instance interacting with local schools.
When the project is up and running and open to the community, one aspect of the plan is to provide space for social prescribing. So what is that exactly?
Here is how the NHS describes it:
Social prescribing is a key component of Universal Personalised Care. It is an approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing.
In social prescribing, local agencies such as local charities, social care and health services refer people to a social prescribing link worker. Social prescribing link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me?’ to coproduce a simple personalised care and support plan and support people to take control of their health and wellbeing. Social prescribing link workers also support existing community groups to be accessible and sustainable, and help people to start new groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.
Social prescribing can help reduce medication by offering therapies that support alternative lifestyles. The first port of call would likely be through your GP who would then refer you to a specialist link worker. Their role is to find the appropriate approach for each patient.
One thing that is lacking is suitable venues which offer comfort and support. The old cottage oozes coziness, or at least it will once restored. The exposed wooden beams and low ceilings exude welcome and hospitality.
It has a ring of serendipity about it. When Albert Napper and the Reverend Sapte started the first cottage hospital here in Cranleigh in 1859, they recognised quite clearly that patients recover and maintain their health and wellness close to home. How fitting that a local charity can apply for funds to bring our wonderful disused cottage back into the same service.
FURTHER SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT
There are many opportunities for enthusiastic volunteers to join the project. This promises to be a rewarding challenge for those with an interest in history and heritage, or in helping people. Please contact us by phone, 01483 272987, letter or email to:
If you are a charity, business or therapist please do contact us to register your interest. We need long-term partners, and the Heritage Fund panel needs us to show them how we are engaging with our community.
To register an expression of interest in future use of the facilities please do write to us with the following information:
1. Brief description of what you offer and the benefits to clients and customers.
2. Say if and where you currently offer this service and why people would use the cottage to meet you.
3. Brief declaration of support for the project in general.
4. Return name and address and any website or social media links.
Thank you so much! Trustees Trevor Dale – Chair; Howard Barratt; Jane Briggs; Chris Bulley; Sue Dale; Nigel West. Advisors Bob Callard – architect; Joanna James – business advisor, Michael Miller and Joy Horn, history advisors.
Visit our website: www.cranleighheritagetrust.org.uk
