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Blue Bell Community Hub Project - Cocking, West Sussex

The heart of a Community at the heart of the South Downs National Park

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Our Video – Breathing life into our community

THE BLUE BELL COMMUNITY HUB INVESTORS NOW OWN THE BLUE BELL PUB BUT WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP

On 30th April 2019 the sale of The Blue Bell was completed with the financial support of so many Cocking residents, friends and supporters, some loans and partner grants. The Blue Bell Community Hub can now move forward, and tenders are currently out for the works required to complete the project and get the building open and serving the local community

This is a tremendous achievement and has, within the 6 months since we set out, managed to save a key asset for our community, providing a foundation that will support the area for years to come.

Blue Bell Community Hub - Cocking, West Sussex

The Management Committee have now launched The Blue Bell Community Hub Refurbishment Fund and are applying for grants that may become available now that the building has been secured, to date, we have £20,000 in the fund.

Of the £650,000 we needed to raise, £500,000 was for the purchase of the property, this has now been achieved with over 150 shareholders and donors to date.

The Blue Bell Community Hub Refurbishment Fund

The total refurbishment cost is £150,000 and the balance of this will be achieved through further Community Share sales, donations, grants, other investors and community fundraising events.

There’s a lot of hard work ahead with many villagers offering their support and assistance in the clearance, garden preparation and decoration. The main bulk of the work will be carried out by contractors and this will commence once we have the funds and the tenders in.

Blue Bell Community Hub - Cocking, West Sussex
Proposed Exterior - Blue Bell, Cocking, West Sussex

Refurbishment Plans - External

Refurbishment Plans - External

View the Blue Bell Community Hub external refurbishment plans.

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Impression of new bar area - Blue Bell, Cocking, West Sussex

Refurbishment Plans - Internal

Refurbishment Plans - Internal

View the Blue Bell Community Hub internal refurbishment plans.

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If you have not joined us in supporting the project through either Community Shares or a Donation, then please do. The Renovation Fund is key to make this a reality as soon as possible. Please also encourage those around you and friends and family to join in too.

Thanks for your interest.

View our Crowdfunder page
Blue Bell Community Hub - Countdown - Issue 6 - July 2019

Issue 6 - July 2019 - Countdown Newsletter

Issue 6 - July 2019 - Countdown Newsletter

In this issue
YOUR COMMUNITY HUB STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE
GETTING PLASTERED
YOU CAN STILL BE PART OF THE SUCCESS
THE VOLUNTEER TEAM
COCKING’S HIDDEN GARDENS
and more!

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Our Mission

Our aim is to make the Blue Bell the Hub of the Community, a hub that will incorporate a café, pub, accommodation, visitor centre, our post office and shop.

By working together with other enterprises in the village, it will ‘breathe life back into our community’ and provide the facilities and space that will serve people of all ages and background.

The Community Benefit Society (CBS) will raise funds to acquire, carry out initial works and provide the start-up working capital to create the Hub. It will employ a tenant and work with them in partnership to meet the communities needs.

The Blue Bell Community Hub will be the heart of the Community at the heart of the South Downs National Park.

Our Vision

To develop a sustainable community enterprise, that is inclusive and that delivers and contributes to a vibrant and thriving village that will also serve and involve those around us.

Latest News

The Blue Bell Community Hub Refurbishment Fund has been launched for the next phase of our project.

With your help we can turn this dream into a reality