top of page

Community Centre Business Plan

Rhyl Community Association

Just Solutions were engaged by Rhyl Community Association to create a business case and plan for the future, for an upgraded and enhanced community facility at Fforddlas, an existing community centre in the heart of a 'Communities First' area in South West Rhyl. 

Line drawing of 5 people. On the far left is an elderly man painting at an easel. To his right is a child practicing Karate. To their right is a man sitting on a bench passing a hammer to another man who is using a wheelchair. On the far right is a woman standing, wearing gardening gloves and holding a potted plant.

Project Goals

Developing mutually complementary services with a nearby primary school and childcare centre

Project Goals

Rhyl Community Association (RCA) is a registered charity whose primary goal is to promote the welfare of those living in the local community. Just Solutions were contracted by RCA to develop a plan for an upgrade of an existing community facility, Fforddlas, in South West Rhyl.

Located in an area experiencing high levels of socio-economic need and poverty, the aim of this project was to create a hub for learning, recreation and leisure that would improve the quality of life, health and well-being of the local community. 

 

A key goal of this project was to ensure that any new development would complement and enhance existing facilities, rather than simply replicating the existing offer in the area.

An architect's illustration of the new community centre with playing fields next to it and people on the fields

Vision for the new, extended community centre - Parry Davies Architects

Overcoming Obstacles

The Community Association were facing a number of key challenges that needed overcoming through this project, including: 

bullet3.png
bullet3.png

Increasing financial pressures

Deterioration of existing buildings on the site

bullet3.png
bullet3.png

Loss of much needed planned capital investment into Fforddlas

Tenant relocation leading to an annual rent loss of £18,000 + 50% of running costs

bullet3.png

A changing environment - a number of other organisations and buildings in Rhyl were now offering community rooms, creating greater competition.

Just Solutions worked with RCA to develop inventive solutions to these issues. For example, by selling another of their assets, the Community Association were able to free up over a quarter of a million pounds for investment into the new community facility. This was a crucial step in tackling the financial challenges facing this project. 

Ensuring a Joined Up Approach

We worked with Denbighshire County Council and other local community organisations to develop initiatives that would complement the existing local offer. This included proposals such as: 

bullet3.png

Developing mutually complementary services with a nearby primary school and childcare centre

bullet3.png

Providing a venue for the Men's Shed, a local organisation running various groups such as creative and leisure activities for people with disabilities and youth clubs 

bullet3.png

Collaborating with a local football club on the use and maintenance of the community centre playing facilities 

Over £500,000 Funding Secured

The business proposal and future plan created by Just Solutions informed 5 successful funding applications, totalling over £500,000 secured for the development of the upgraded community facility. 

A table displaying the funding sources which are as follows: Welsh Government Community Facilities Fund - £250,000. The Albert Gubay Foundation - £167,000. The Bernard Sunley Foundation - £50,000. The Steve Morgan Foundation - £35,000. Burbo Bank Wind Farm - £10,000. Total: £512,000.

Despite significant challenges facing the new development, Just Solutions were able to create a business plan that could deliver on Rhyl Community Association's goals while complementing existing and planned projects within the community.

An architect's illustration of the new community centre building, with the letters RCA on the front

Vision for the new, extended community centre - Parry Davies Architects

A line drawing of the links in a chain

“Opening up a whole new vision for the future

Just Solutions were engaged by Rhyl Community Association when it was faced with a number of challenges including: increasing financial pressures, deteriorating condition of existing buildings, loss of much needed planned capital investment, tenant relocation leading to rent loss and a changing environment - a number of other organisations/buildings offering community rooms.

Just Solutions helped the Community Association see things completely differently - opening up a whole new vision for the future. The work included an initial review, informing innovative new solutions, including the sale of one asset to enable investment in another. Just Solutions wrote the business case and plan for the future development also informing 7 different applications for funding which have passed expression of interest stage - ongoing.

Chair,

Rhyl Community Association

bottom of page