We are the not-for-profit Community Interest Company which manages the new Community Space called The Pavilion at the Sports Ground in Castlethorpe on behalf of the Parish Council. The building work is complete but we need another £25,000 to fit it out so we can open as a much-needed community cafe and bar. The CIC has six directors: three are residents and three from the Parish Council.
The original Cricket Pavilion on the site has been extensively renovated by Castlethorpe Parish Council and an extension built to house a new community cafe and bar called The Pavilion, at a cost of around £280,000, which has been paid for from "planning gain" money and the council's reserves.
Our 2017 Neighbourhood Plan survey revealed that isolation and loneliness are major concerns among our residents. In 2023, the Parish Council conducted a Parish Advisory Poll, asking: "Should we build a clubhouse at the Sports Ground?" The response showed overwhelming support: 337 votes in favour and only 56 against.
It will serve as a warm and inviting space for everyone, especially our older villagers who can meet up with friends, providing much-needed company. It will also be a welcoming spot for those working from home, seeking a change of scenery, and for users of the outdoor gym and the other sports facilities at the Sports Ground.
We are currently on the final step, raising the money needed for essential catering and kitchen equipment, tables, chairs and furnishings we need before The Pavilion can open. We are well on the way, thanks to a generous £5,000 grant from Milton Keynes Community Foundation and donations from the Duck Race and Hickford Construction, but we still need to find another £25,000.
Please visit our crowdfunder page at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/castlethorpe-pavilion for more information. Or you can donate to Castlethorpe Community Space CIC by bank transfer. Details below.
These are the prices of some of the items we need to furnish the cafe:
c/o 63 Thrupp Close, Castlethorpe
Milton Keynes MK19 7PL
07568 710183
This work has been supported with funding from MK Community Foundation
© 2024 Castlethorpe Community Space CIC. Company Number: 15318532