Bramley Baths’ unique role in its community has been recognised by major investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Investment from the fund will allow the community led Baths to realise untapped potential around its heritage and protect and restore the building, ensuring continued long term service delivery and development.
A development grant of £639,375 from the Heritage Fund has been awarded for the first phase of a £4.1million project.
This first phase of funding will allow initial work to restore and protect the unique heritage asset, explore bringing new audiences to the Baths through a programme of heritage, arts, culture and wellbeing activities, and make the building, its original features, and vital services sustainable for the long term future.
Helen Whiteley, Business Development Manager at the Baths, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this initial development grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“It will allow us to explore plans to develop our heritage, arts, culture and wellbeing programme, protect and restore our unique site, and open up unused and original parts of the building.
“It will further help put the Baths on the heritage map, attracting new visitors, allow us to develop exciting new activities, and ensure an environmentally sustainable and financially resilient future.
“It’s a real testament to the importance of the Baths in so many ways that the Heritage Fund are investing in its future and protecting its heritage, and is just the start of a long term relationship.”
Chief Executive Officer David Wilford said: “It’s a reward for such a great effort over the past three to four years, developing plans with local people to sustain this community led and community owned social enterprise.
“The whole team has worked hard to develop a credible plan that will sustain the valuable social enterprise over the next 60 years – a real legacy of what running an enterprise from a heritage treasure can achieve.
“With commitment from the board to support the senior team, staff and volunteers to achieve a vision created with the whole community, the plans will make sure the baths are around for future generations, by protecting heritage, health, swimming skills and wellbeing from a protected 121-year-old building.”
Nicholas Quin, Chair of the volunteer board, said “This is a great testament to the board, senior teams and everyone’s efforts over the past 12 years in building a successful community led social enterprise that really cares and supports its local community.
“Along with a successful community share issue, the support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund really helps to secure the future for the organisation. It demonstrates the power of communities taking on local assets for the benefit of communities.”
Helen Featherstone, Director of England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to support Bramley Baths with the initial phase of their ambitious restoration project. Thanks to National Lottery players, they can continue to develop their plans to safeguard the building and the many stories held within its walls for future generations.”
The Baths recently held a successful community share offer, netting over £374,000 to fund key works to the roof at the Edwardian Grade II Listed building.
Good luck to them but do have to wonder how much they have spent over the years. It seems that whatever they’ve raised over the years it’s never enough.