Youth and Community space opportunity - Southwark Council

Youth and Community space opportunity Blue Youth Club

Blue Youth Centre, 190 – 192 Southwark Park Rd, London SE16 3RP Blue Youth Centre is a two storey, double fronted building on the corner of Southwark Park Road and Monnow Road. It was used as a youth centre for many years until March 2016. The council is now looking for a voluntary or community sector organisation to lease the building and make it available again for a variety of community uses, including activities for children and young people. The building was internally refurbished as a youth club in 2014. It is DDA compliant.

The Opportunity Southwark Council is offering Blue Youth Centre for community and youth use. We are seeking applications from organisations that will maximise the use of the space and offer a range of community provision which can be for children, young people and adults. An essential must be after schools provision for young people in the neighbourhood. This opportunity is strategically aligned with the Council’s Activities for Children and Young People Strategy and its commitment to maximise use of community facilities for the voluntary sector. The Space The building offers two spaces. A ground floor which has social space, office, kitchen and toilet facilities and a first floor which has open activity space and a further WC. It is to be used by community organisations to benefit the local residents and young people. It could be used for a number of community activities examples of which are (this is not an exhaustive list): Daytime  Activities for older people  Activities for pre school children  Educational activities  Cultural activities  Hiring of space/income generating activities  Range of free and chargeable community activities  Social enterprise  Training Evening time  Activities for young people, open access universal sessions  Targeted activities for young people  Cultural activities for young people

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Floor plans

The area

There were 70,710 residents estimated to be living in the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Community Council area when the latest Census was conducted on 27th March 2011. Please see below for some key information on the area. • A higher proportion of residents in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe than anywhere else in the Borough are aged 25-29 (16%) and 30-34 (13%). This is higher than the national average which is 7% for each of these categories. • The proportion of White residents in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe (63%) is higher than the Borough average of 54% but lower than the England average of 85%. The proportion of Asian / Asian British residents (12%) is second highest in the Borough and above the national average of 8%. The proportion of Black residents is 10% lower than the Borough average. • The majority of residents in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe identify as Christian (53%) and the area has the highest proportion of residents in the Borough identifying as Buddhist (2%) and Hindu (2%). • The proportion of residents in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe that live in a flat, maisonette or apartment (82%) is 8% higher than the Borough average and 61% higher than the national average. • The majority of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe residents either have English as their main language (78%) or speak English well (20%); however the proportion of those with English as their main language is lower than both the Borough average of 80% and the national average of 92%. • Bermondsey and Rotherhithe has the highest proportion of obese 10-11 year olds in the Borough (30%)

and this is significantly higher than the national average of 19%. What’s nearby? Shops There are a variety of independent shops in the Blue; many are family owned and have been operating for generations. It is also home to the Blue Market which is open Monday to Saturday selling a variety of goods from food, plants, clothes, pet food to greeting cards. The market provides new traders with the opportunity to launch new products. The Community Opportunities stall has been made possible with the support of Blue Bermondsey BID in partnership with Big Local Works and by working with Southwark Council’s markets team. This forms part of a longer term strategy for invigorating the historic market and creating more employment opportunities for local people. Businesses There is also an area known as the ‘the Biscuit Factory’ which is dedicated to office lettings, where many local companies are based. The area was once known as Biscuit Town and it is soon to be embarking on a development process carried out by the Duke of Westminster’s Grosvenor Estates that will transform the area with new homes, new culture spaces, new offices and new connections with The Blue.

Library The Blue Market Place is also home to the Blue Anchor Public library. There is a public car park with limited but free parking spaces up to three hours and disabled parking. Nature reserve Galleywood Road is close to the youth centre and is home to a nature reserve. This small plot of land has been owned by Southwark Housing for decades. It is populated with native trees and shrubs, and a carefully maintained pond. They often run open days on weekends, and children are well catered for, with a number of games organised around the plants and wildlife.

Children’s centres There are 2 children’s centres nearby: o o

South Bermondsey Children and Parent Centre at Tenda Road, SE16 3PN Kintore Way Children’s Centre, Grange Road, SE1 3BW

Nurseries There are a variety of nurseries nearby: o o

Lilies Day Nursery, Bermondsey Christians Centres, Strathnairn Street, London SE1 5BN New Vision Day Nursery, 40 Galleywall Road SE16 3PB o Child Play1 Kids Club, Southwark Park T&RA Hall, Layard Square, Four Squares Estate SE16 2JE o Strawberry Babybubs Nursery, St James Church Courtyard, 28 St James Road, Bermondsey SE16 4QJ o Skallywags, Southwark Park Road SE16 2HU Art gallery Nolias Gallery (Thomas a Beckett) is a small art gallery which showcases up-and-coming young artists. This is located at 320 - 322 Old Kent Road, SE1 5UE Gyms o o

Southwark Park Sports Complex, Southwark Park, Hawkstone Road, SE16 2PE Free outdoor gym in Southwark Park (near to the path between China Hall Gates and the café gallery) o Seven Islands Leisure Centre, Lower Road, Rotherhithe, SE16 2TU Adventure playgrounds o o o

Spa Gardens Adventure Playground, Ellen Brown Childrens Centre, 145 Grange Road SE1 3EU Fredericks Adventure Playground, Westcott Road SE17 3QY Bethwin Road Adventure Playground, 4 Bethwin Road SE5 0HF

The Considerations The building has two floors. There is a disabled accessible toilet on the ground floor but no lift access to the first floor. The maximum operating hours for any use is between 7am and 10pm. Outside of this time the building is not to be occupied. We would expect activities to start operating in the building no later than the beginning of September 2018. Southwark Council will not provide any additional funding for activity. Lease A lease of 10 years duration with mutual break options at the end of year 5 will be offered on Full Repairing and Insuring terms. The lease will require the tenant to ensure that the premises is compliant with all statutory and regulatory requirements, including:     

Asbestos monitoring Fire Risk assessment; any associated works would be negotiated with the successful applicant Water hygiene Gas safety Electrics monitoring

Use Class 

The current use class of the space is D1

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Any change of use class would need to be agreed by the council through the planning process (although it should be noted that the council’s primary objective in letting the premises is to secure a broad range of community activities with a strong youth activity focus).

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Use of the property after 10.00pm will not be permitted.

Rent, Rates and Utilities 

The rent is £15,000 per annum exclusive. To allow the incoming tenant the opportunity to fully establish itself the council would be prepared to agree that the rent should be phased as follows (but with no further rent concession such as a rent free period): Year 1 £3,000 Year 2 £6,000 Year 3 £9,000 Year 4 £12,000 Year 5 £15,000 After the fifth year the rent will be fully reviewed to Market Rent at that time.

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Rent payments must be paid in quarterly instalments (this figure does not include utilities or business rates).

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You will be liable for business rates, which is £7,272 per annum from 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2019 (the rateable Value is £14,750). Please note if you are a charity and the premises will be used mainly for charitable purposes, there will be 80% rate relief, which would give an annual bill of £1,454. Details and application requirements for mandatory business rates relief (and other discretionary reliefs) can be found on the council’s website.

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You will be responsible for all utility bills, including gas, electricity, water rates, phone line and broadband. Approximate previous running costs for these utilities were per annum o Electricity £1000 o Gas £1500 o Water £500

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o Refuse collection £1400 o Rates £6500 

Please note that this cost is based on previous expenditure when the building was not in use every day or for extended hours any day. You should budget for higher expenditure in relation to these overheads.

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The council will insure the property for reinstatement purposes and you will be required to reimburse annual premiums.

The challenges The following challenges should be noted: 

The first floor has no wheelchair access. Proposals for any new access arrangements would need to be negotiated with Southwark.

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The toilets are located in the following locations: o Ground floor (this is a disabled accessible toilet which also has baby changing facilities) o First floor

Phone lines and broadband connection will need to be fitted at the successful applicants cost.

The Application Process We are inviting voluntary and community sector organisations to submit a written proposal of no more than 5 pages outlining their vision and activities for the building. The proposal must address the following: 1. How the project will support the Council’s Fairer Future Promise of ‘making our neighbourhoods places we can all be proud to live and work.’ 2. How your proposal supports the themes from the Council’s Activities for Children and Young People Strategy 3. The length of time you would like the space for and an ideal start date. 4. The times of operation. 5. How the project will offer inclusive and accessible participatory opportunities for local residents and young people 6. How the project will be inspiring, innovative and creative. 7. How the project will have community involvement at its heart 8. How the project demonstrates quality and excellence. 9. Details of your experience and ability in running a building of this type and its facilities In addition you will be required to supply the following information with your application:   

Outline business plan Evidence of the status of your organisation (e.g. charitable, CIC, limited company etc.) and details of your public liability insurance. 3 examples of former relevant experience; website links are acceptable.

The successful applicant will need to provide the following prior to the signing of a lease:      

A safeguarding children and vulnerable adult policy Copies of current DBS certificates Evidence of public liability insurance in place Experian credit reports Bank and landlord references Proof of identification

Selection Considerations

Applications will be assessed against how they meet the aims outlined above. We may select up to three different organisations to discuss their proposals and we reserve the right to offer the property to a consortium of partners. We will score against the above considerations using the following assessment process: Assessment

Score

Basis of score

Cannot be scored

0 points

No information provided or incapable of being taken forward either because the organisation does not demonstrate an understanding of our requirements or because the solution is incapable of meeting our requirements.

Unsatisfactory

1 point

Although the organisation does demonstrate an understanding of our requirements there are some major risks or omissions in relation to the proposed solution to deliver activities and we would not be confident that our requirements would be met.

Satisfactory

2 points

A response which is capable of meeting our requirements but is unlikely to go beyond this.

Good

3 points

A response which shows that the organisation demonstrates an understanding of our requirements and has a credible methodology to deliver the service which could lead to additional benefits.

Very Good

4 points

A response which shows that the organisation demonstrates an understanding of our requirements, has a credible methodology to deliver the service alongside a clear process and plan to deliver additional benefits and deliver value.

Excellent

5 points

A response which shows how the service can comprehensively be taken to the next level in terms of exceeding our requirements and/or offering significant added value to the council’s overall strategic requirements and objectives.

Due to the high volume of interest we anticipate that we will only contact those that are shortlisted for interview. Selection Panel The selection panel will be made up from the following:

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A representative from the Southwark Youth Services team Head of Property Head of Culture Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Equalities and Communities

Indicative Timetable 18th June 2018

Advertisement of opportunity and issue of specification

Open day/evening

June 28th from 2pm to 8pm

15th July 2018

Deadline for Proposals

Week commencing 16th July

Shortlisting

Week commencing 23rd July

Interviews and selection of successful applicant

From September 2018

Space available for occupation following successful completion of checks and signing of lease.

This is an indicative timetable that could be subject to change. Open Day We will provide an opportunity for interested parties to see the space on Thursday June 28th 2018 between the hours of 2pm and 8pm. If you do want to see the space you must register your interest by emailing [email protected] by June 24th 2018 Management The project will be managed by the Youth Service. Deadline for Application Please send completed applications 15th July 2018

Please email your completed application to: [email protected] If you do not have access to email you can post it to: Catherine Snell Research and Development Officer Sustainability and Business Development Team Environment and Social Regeneration Southwark Council T: 0207 525 3756 M: 07547 565321 Questions and queries If you have any queries please email [email protected]