Community Project Aims to Save Historic Pub and Create 'Living Room' for Domestic Abuse Victims

Strategic Insights -

A VITAL community project is aiming to save a historic pub building and transform it into a 'community living room' to help with growing demand for support services. Domestic Abuse WA12, a community interest company (CIC) founded by survivors of domestic abuse, offers a wide range of support services, including mental health sessions, wellbeing workshops, housing support, and signposting to other services.

With the company's demand growing exponentially over the past three and a half years, the CIC has expanded to offer a food surplus project and is now seeking to take over the historic Ram's Head pub building in Earlestown. The building has been dilapidated since its closure in 2021 and has experienced issues with criminal damage, vandalism, and cannabis farms.

Key Takeaways:

  • Domestic Abuse WA12 is a community interest company (CIC) founded by survivors of domestic abuse, offering a wide range of support services, including mental health sessions, wellbeing workshops, housing support, and signposting to other services.
  • The CIC has seen exponential growth in demand over the past three and a half years, leading to the expansion of services to include a food surplus project.
  • Domestic Abuse WA12 aims to take over the historic Ram's Head pub building in Earlestown to create a 'community living room' for domestic abuse victims.
  • The building has been dilapidated since its closure in 2021 and has experienced issues with criminal damage, vandalism, and cannabis farms.
  • The CIC plans to use a fundraising campaign to raise enough cash to take over the building as a community asset.
  • If the campaign raises around 10% of the building's value, reported to be around £50,000, the CIC can apply for grant funding to cover the rest of the cost.

Statistics:

  • Demand for services at Domestic Abuse WA12 has grown exponentially over the past three and a half years.
  • The CIC has supported countless people over the past three years.
  • The Ram's Head pub building has been dilapidated since its closure in 2021.
  • The building has experienced issues with criminal damage, vandalism, and cannabis farms.
  • The CIC plans to raise around £5,000 (10% of the building's value) through a fundraising campaign to apply for grant funding.
  • The building's total value is reported to be around £50,000.

Sources:

  • Official website of Domestic Abuse WA12, citing the CIC's mission and services
  • GoFundMe page for the Domestic Abuse WA12 fundraising campaign
  • St Helens Star, article "Community Interest Company domestic Abuse WA12, wins Social Impact Business of the Year award" (2022)
  • Halton & St Helens VCA's Volunteer Awards (2023)
  • Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown and the surrounding areas (local community news and resources)