Author: stokescroftlandtrust

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PRESS RELEASE: Is community land ownership a feasible option? Stokes Croft Land Trust exhibition provides the details

  • The Stokes Croft Land Trust’s latest exhibition will explore the importance of community ownership of local land and buildings. 
  • The exhibition, held at The Vestibules, City Hall, College Green, will allow attendees to learn more about the campaign to purchase the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft building.
  • Entry is free and more information is available at https://prsc.org.uk/event/sclt-vestibules-exhibition/ 
  • The Land Trust has currently raised over £170,000 of its £272,000 minimum target, with more than 220 investors so far. 

Today, (31st January, 2022), the Stokes Croft Land Trust (SCLT) has announced a new exhibition exploring community land ownership, taking place from 8th to 11th February at The Vestibules, City Hall, College Green. The free exhibition will explain the important role and history of community land trusts, whilst also allowing people to meet members of the project’s board. Since launching their community land ownership campaign to purchase PRSC HQ on 25th November, 2021, SCLT has amassed more than 220 investors, raising over £170,000 of its £272,000 minimum target.

The four-day showcase will give people the chance to learn and be part of an important, democratic and new economic system for land ownership. The exhibition will further highlight the community wealth-building plans afoot in Stokes Croft, which can be replicable in other areas nationally. Within Bristol, there are many examples of co-ops and community-led organisations such as Cube Microplex, Bristol Ferries and the Exchange that have secured & run valued community assets and services.  The exhibition will also delve into the progress of community land trusts, detailing its origins in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement by black and farming communities in North America and its exponential growth ever since. 

Part of the Land Trust’s mission is, by transferring land into community ownership, to remove it from the open market and property speculation. Developing existing buildings, which is cheaper but as effective as demolition and rebuild, enables long-term affordable and sustainable local development. With a successful community share offer, Stokes Croft Land Trust will secure a prominent arts facility, home to PRSC HQ, in the city.  When people invest, they become members of Stokes Croft Land Trust with equal voting rights alongside other members in the Land Trust’s next steps. The project also aims to deliver a return of up to 3% per annum, however, any money invested is fully at risk. 

Keith Cowling, Director at the Stokes Croft Land Trust, commented:

“As a city, Bristol has seen numerous changes to local land and buildings over the past decade, however, its community spirit continues to thrive. Through our campaign, the Stokes Croft Land Trust will give people a place to support local businesses and communities and this will start with the purchase of the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft building. For those that want to be part of our community initiative to secure the land and buildings in Bristol, come down to our exhibition to learn more about why community ownership really matters.”

Hilary Sudbury, Local Co-operative & Social Enterprise Development Worker, said: 

“In light of the devastating impact of the pandemic, there is an appetite to support local projects to ensure our neighbourhoods remain welcoming, unique and full of character. The Stokes Croft Land Trust follows in the footsteps of similar initiatives across the Bristol, Bath and the wider West of England area and we are raising capital through community shares to create a new model for the ownership of land and buildings. Our exhibition will bring to life the Land Trust’s ambitious vision, giving attendees a flavour of community ownership and the power of collective action.”

The exhibition is open from 12 pm to 7 pm Tuesday 8th to Thursday 10th February, and from 12 pm to 5 pm on Friday 11th February. 

Alongside the exhibition, people interested in community ownership are invited to join the upcoming ‘Meet the Board’ event where participants can share their vision for Stokes Croft and Bristol in the face of rapid development. The virtual event, taking place Tuesday 15th February from 7 pm – 8 pm, will also give people the chance to explain how they feel the project should further evolve. 

To learn more about the Stokes Croft Land Trust’s community share offer campaign, visit their Fundsurfer page, subscribe to their mailing list, or visit the upcoming exhibition. 

For all press enquiries and interviews, please contact Simon Stone, PR and Marketing Executive at OggaDoon on 07519 986237 or email simon@oggadoon.co.uk. 

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£160,000 raised! [Fundsurfer update]

We are delighted to announce that we have reached over £160,000 of our £272,000 minimum target to purchase 17-25 Jamaica Street and 14 Hillgrove Street (PRSC HQ) and transfer the building into community ownership. Thank you for joining over 200 other investors to make this possible so far! 

You can still help us to reach more people by telling your friends, family and colleagues about what we are aiming to achieve and sharing our Fundsurfer page with them: www.fundsurfer.com/sclt

It would be great if you could like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date with our progress. 

For any other questions, email info@stokescroftlandtrust.org. 

Let’s invest in our community.

Many thanks, 

Keith Cowling
Stokes Croft Land Trust, Director

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Over £150,000 invested so far! [Fundsurfer update]

Yes! In just three weeks since launch, we have now reached over £150,000! Thank you for investing with us; we are one step closer to reaching our minimum target of £272,000 – can we get to £200,000 before the end of the year? With your support, we can… 

Remember that money will not be taken from the chosen payment method (debit/credit card or bank transfer) until the project has reached its target level, this may not be until February 2022. 

Please tell everyone you know to help us spread the word and get more people involved in this truly exciting project. Make sure you are following us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. If you have any other questions, please get in contact at info@stokescroftlandtrust.org. 

Together, we can make a difference. 

Many thanks, 

Keith Cowling
Stokes Croft Land Trust, Director

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Can you help us reach more local people and businesses? [Fundsurfer update]

Thank you for supporting the Stokes Croft Land Trust’s community share offer campaign. We are close to reaching yet another milestone, with almost £150,000 invested of our £272,000 minimum target and we have around 150 investors so far. 

Below, we have dedicated a special thank you video to everyone who has made this possible so far. 

We want to make sure that we hit our targets before our deadline of Monday 28th February 2022 and to ensure this becomes a reality, we need your help further! 

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and register your interest on our website to hear regular updates from the campaign. Share the Fundsurfer page with your friends, colleagues and networks far and wide so that our message reaches as many people as possible. 

If you have any questions about other methods of getting involved, please contact info@stokescroftlandtrust.org 

Together, we can create a new model for the ownership of land and buildings as our part of making a better future for our city. 

Many thanks,

Keith Cowling
Stokes Croft Land Trust, Director

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Halfway to our minimum target in less than a week! [Fundsurfer update]

Since our community share offer launched last Thursday, we have raised over 50% of our minimum target of £272,000. We would like to thank every person or business who has purchased shares to help bring local buildings and land into community ownership. 

We are not resting at the halfway point! We’ve still got plenty to achieve and you can help us further by telling your friends, colleagues and family members what we are aiming to do to change how the buildings and land in our city are owned. For regular updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter. If you have any further questions, please email us at info@stokescroftlandtrust.org 

Thank you for joining us on our mission. 

Keith Cowling, 
Stokes Croft Land Trust Director

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Over £120,000 raised in 36 hours! [Fundsurfer update]

After launching our community share offer campaign at 10am yesterday, we have raised a total of £124,405 which is almost 50% to our minimum target of £272,000. This couldn’t have been possible without your support and so from everyone here at the Stokes Croft Land Trust, we wanted to say thank you. 

We’ve still got a fair way to go, so please make sure you help us spread the word by telling your friends, colleagues and family members. For more updates from the Land Trust team, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. If you have any further questions, please email us at info@stokescroftlandtrust.org 

Thank you for joining us on our mission. 

Keith Cowling, 
Stokes Croft Land Trust Director

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PRESS RELEASE: Stokes Croft Land Trust Launches First Community Share Offer

  • Stokes Croft Land Trust (SCLT) first ever community share offer now open on Fundsurfer platform
  • The Land Trust is looking to raise a minimum of £272,000 to purchase commercial buildings in Stokes Croft, Bristol with a projected 3% return*
  • The properties will be transferred into community ownership safeguarding the assets from developers
  • The minimum investment is £100, with a special £10 entry level for residents in three neighbouring BS postcodes, up to a maximum of £34,500

Today, Thursday 25th November 2021, Stokes Croft Land Trust (SCLT) has launched its first ever community share offer with a minimum target raise of £272,000 and a projected 3% return for investors. The share offer will fund the purchase of 17 -25 Jamaica Street and 14 Hillgrove Street, known as the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC), transferring the buildings into community ownership. The move will safeguard community assets in Stokes Croft from additional private sector property development and gentrification of the area. Working with Bristol-based investment platform, Fundsurfer, the Land Trust has set the minimum investment at £100 with residents in three Bristol postcodes, BS1 3**, BS6 5** and BS2 8**, able to back from as little as £10.

Currently owned by Angel Investors, the sale of the properties has been agreed at the 2013 purchase price to the Land Trust although a recent valuation report states the properties are now valued at £450,000.  In developing this commercial model, the Land Trust has acted to stop the gentrification of Stokes Croft caused by property developers and corporate businesses moving in to pursue profit, threatening the very culture that makes Stokes Croft attractive. The Land Trust will take control of the land, making community ownership, as opposed to private, the norm for the area providing social benefit and value to all who live in and enjoy Stokes Croft regardless of background and wealth both now and in the future. 

The anchor tenant, PRSC, will continue to use the buildings as PRSC HQ , once the purchase has been completed. The Land Trust is a Charitable Community Benefit Society – a membership based organisation – registered with the FCA.  All new investors will automatically become members with voting rights, giving equal say, alongside the other members, on what the Land Trust does next.

Speaking about the launch, Land Trust board member Keith Cowling said:

“We need you. This is our first project but we are aiming to buy more. We have developed this opportunity so that you can join, reap the benefits directly and for our city. And in doing so, you are actively helping us to preserve not only buildings but our unique culture, social enjoyment, the sense of belonging and the future opportunities for creativity and progress which Stokes Croft is well known for. This is critical to our city. We are already witnessing the slow erosion of the Stokes Croft identity with the redevelopment of Carriageworks and this must stop. You can easily be part of that. Join us today.”

The community share offer launch coincides with the opening of a city-focused exhibition providing a spotlight on PRSC’s history, Stokes Croft battles that have been won and lost, Community Wealth Building information as well as an area to find out more about the share offer and opportunities to back on the spot. A series of events are planned during November and December including an evening with Bristol Community Land Trust to discuss gentrification, a talk on Community Wealth Building plus a Land Justice Film Night.

Supporting the community share offer, local Co-operative & Social Enterprise Development Worker, Hilary Sudbury said:

“Raising capital to buy or safeguard community assets through a community share offer is bringing the power of collective action into play.  Buy shares, become a member and have your say in the organisation thereafter. 

Bristol has seen successful community share offers from Bristol Energy Co-operative (renewable energy assets), Bristol Community Ferries (the iconic blue and yellow harbour ferries) and The Exchange (music venue).  Further afield, successful community shares initiatives include Komedia & The Bell Inn, both of whom successfully bought their premises in Bath, and Clevedon Pier, Clevedon Community Bookshop and Low Carbon Gordano (renewable energy) have led the way in North Somerset.”

Investment to the community share offer is through Fundsurfer – please read the share offer document before investing. To find out more about the Stokes Croft Land Trust, subscribe directly to their mailing list here.

* Any money you invest in community shares is fully at risk. Community share offers are exempt from, or outside the scope of, statutory regulations that apply to the public offer of shares and other financial promotions. Applicants have no recourse to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, or the Financial Ombudsman Service.

For all press enquiries and interviews, please contact Simon Stone, PR and Marketing Executive at OggaDoon on 07519 986237 or email simon@oggadoon.co.uk. 

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PRESS RELEASE: Stokes Croft Land Trust to Launch Community Share Offer with Evening of Music and Talks

  • Stokes Croft Land Trust (SCLT) will be launching their first ever Community Share Offer on 25th November
  • The event, held at People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC) Space, kicks off the opening of the history of PRSC exhibition 
  • Immigrant Jam, part of the Immigrant Swing family, will be performing with Keith Cowling delivering a talk about the Land Trust’s ambitions for the city
  • Entry is free with more information at https://prsc.org.uk/event/stokes-croft-land-trust-launch-party

Today, Wednesday 17th November 2021, Stokes Croft Land Trust (SCLT) has announced a series of events kicking off with an evening of music and talks on Thursday 25th November at the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC) Space in Stokes Croft. The evening heralds the launch of its first ever Community Share Offer to purchase 17 -25 Jamaica Street and 14 Hillgrove Street to transfer the building into community ownership. The event also sees the start of an exhibition exploring land justice, community ownership and the ongoing fight against gentrification. Anyone interested in supporting the Land Trust and finding out more about community assets and community ownership is invited to come along. 

The Land Trust aims to raise a minimum of £272,000 via the Fundsurfer crowdfunding platform in community shares on which they aim to deliver a return of up to 3% per annum (capital is at risk). The funds will be used to transfer the current PRSC HQ building in the heart of Stokes Croft into community ownership as an alternative form of land ownership with long term value for the city. The decision for investment and acquisition comes off the back of the growing trend for gentrification and absorption of vital and iconic community buildings into the hands of property developers such as Carriageworks. The Land Trust is ambitious in their vision to acquire a number of properties for community ownership to protect and preserve key city features, the communities within and social value for current and future generations of Bristolians.

Launching on 25th November with a vibrant event at The PRSC Space, will see a performance from local band Immigrant Jam, from the Immigrant Swing family of high energy, foot stomping, global fusion. Keith Cowling, SCLT board member, will deliver an insightful, punchy talk about why the Land Trust is conducting a community share offer, the importance of transferring vital, local buildings into community ownership to avoid ubiquitous property development, for the benefit of everyone who lives and interacts with the city. The launch also marks the opening of a city-focused exhibition providing a spotlight on PRSC’s history, Stokes Croft battles that have been won and lost, Community Wealth Building information as well as an area to find out more about the share offer and opportunities to back on the spot.

Commenting on the community share offer, board member Keith Cowling said:

“Now is the right time for us to act. Land and buildings are being rapidly consumed by the private sector to maintain the churn of property development and this is at the expense of the broader community, often pushing the people that we serve out on the periphery. Bristol has a unique history, a fantastic community spirit and an attitude to doing things differently. That’s why we believe our community share offer presents an opportunity to support what our city is all about. We’ve structured it so that all Bristolians and those beyond our city with an interest in city-based community ownerships can get involved and invest. Come and join us on 25th November to find out more.”

Local Co-operative & Social Enterprise development worker, Hilary Sudbury said:

“Many great initiatives in Bristol and the wider West of England area have raised the capital via community shares to buy community assets and manage them collectively, from pubs and music venues to ferries, bookshops, piers, supporters clubs and renewable energy.”

To find out more about the Stokes Croft Land Trust community share offer, subscribe directly to their mailing list here or attend the event and enjoy an evening of good music and conviviality. 

For all press enquiries and interviews, please contact Simon Stone, PR and Marketing Executive at OggaDoon on 07519 986237 or email simon@oggadoon.co.uk. 

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Launch Events for the SCLT Community Share Offer

The inaugural community share offer from Stokes Croft Land Trust opens on Thursday 25 November 2021, with a launch party at The PRSC Space. Join us from 6pm for an amazing night of music, talks and community love, featuring Immigrant Jam (from the Immigrant Swing family) and a talk from Keith Cowling on the importance of transferring vital, local buildings into community ownership, as well as the opportunity to buy shares then & there.

The evening also marks the opening of an exhibition exploring land justice, community ownership and the ongoing fight against gentrification. Visitors are welcome from 12-6pm every day, from Friday 26 November to Sunday 5 December. A series of evening events, talks and movie screenings will be running alongside this exhibition, keep your eyes peeled for more information.

Both the Launch Party and the exhibition are free entry, and open to all – see you there!