Arts centre in sights of community share offer

Crowd puller: the Clifton project

Locals in the old market town of Wellington, near Telford in Shropshire, have co-operated to demonstrate how crowdfunding can make a big difference to a community.

Together they hope to save a building and build a future. So they have launched a share offer with a fundraising target of £500,000 to buy a disused cinema in the centre of the town and turn it into a thriving arts centre.

Jon King, one of five trustees behind the Clifton Community Arts Centre project, explained: "We met at a local ideas farm where we discovered we have a shared interest in making good use of the old cinema. We are all volunteers and have a vision of a truly community driven centre."

Dave Weston, one of the volunteers, added: "The scheme covers a wide variety of areas, including a high-quality independent cinema, theatre and music space, craft workshops, and a café/bar where local produce will be sold. It will support regeneration, provide employment and offer a wide choice of cultural facilities in an area lacking them."

There is more information theclifton.org and investors from outside the town are also invited to apply for shares.

The project is one of many community share issues around the country where people have joined together to save local shops, pubs and other facilities. You can find out more about organising your own at communityshares.org.uk.